Stopped-and-Frisked by the Police? Soon, You Might Get a 'Receipt'

Starting next month, some New York City police officers will give "receipts" to people they stopped, but didn't arrest. It's part of a pilot program program to test further reforms to the department's controversial stop-and-frisk program. The receipt will explain the reason for the stop and include the telephone number for two entities that oversee the New York Police Department — the Civilian Complaint Review board and the department's own Internal Affairs Bureau. 

Patrick Lynch, the president of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association says the receipts will impede proactive policing and result in false accusations against officers. But Richard Emery, chairman of the civilian review board, told WNYC he believes complaints will go down.

"People will feel less retaliatory if they are not disrespected, insulted and manhandled," Emery said, "but if they are given the reason for the proper stop because there is an articulable reason for the stop and it's written down in the form."

Emery spoke to WNYC's Jami Floyd.