Philip Eure Named NYPD Inspector General

Hoping to bring an extra level of accountability to the New York Police Department, Department of Investigations Commissioner Mark Peters named Philip Eure as head of the brand new Office of Inspector General for the NYPD, an agency created by the Community Safety Act legislation passed by the City Council last year.

Taking the helm of an office whose creation had endured much resistance from law enforcement unions and advocates, Eure brings a wealth of experience to the position, having run Washington D.C.'s Office of Police Complaints since 2000 and previously having served more than a decade in the U.S. Department of Justice as a trial attorney in the civil rights division. Peters said that Eure's mandate would be "extraordinarily broad" and that he would be provided with roughly 50 employees for his office, including investigators, data analysts, lawyers, community outreach personnel, and support staff. 

Peters indicated that he interviewed a number of different candidates for the position, and that Mayor Bill de Blasio became involved in the decision only after he settled on Eure as the pick. Peters said that Eure also met with Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, and that both he and the mayor came away "very impressed" with Eure.

"Independent police review is a critical component in the constant improvement of our public safety efforts, and will help us enhance the operations, programs and practices of the NYPD, while also strengthening the NYPD’s relationship with the community—all vital elements in keeping us safe," de Blasio said in a statement. "Phil has decades of law enforcement experience and is one of the nation’s premier police accountability experts, making him an excellent choice to serve as the city’s first NYPD Inspector General.”

Eure said the Inspector General’s Office would be looking mostly at policy issues related to training and supervision, and policing practices, including stop-and-frisk, but he also said that it would also look at individual cases from time to time. However, Peters was careful to add that the IG would not be stepping on the toes of the Department of Investigation or Civilian Complaints Review Board, both of which focus more on individual complaints. Eure also has the authority to make referrals to criminal prosecutors where appropriate.

One proposal already under consideration, according to Eure, is a trial run for police officers to wear cameras on their lapels to record any civilian stop.

Eure will also be working closely with the federal monitor of the NYPD, which was established by a federal judge as part of a larger ruling on the constitutionality of the department's stop-and-frisk policy.

The police department unions, many of which opposed the Community Safety Act and the creation of the Inspector General's office, were not among the groups consulted on Eure's selection, Peters said. The Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, the largest NYPD union, is suing the City Council over the legislation. Still, Eure said that "communication would be a cornerstone of my approach," in terms of coordinating with all law enforcement agencies and personnel.

"I absolutely want to start off with a productive relationship with all of these individuals and organizations, so communication is key. I'll be meeting with those union officials," Eure said.