I was surprised by how many New Yorkers supported Commissioner Kelly's comments on tonight's program. I honestly expected more outrage from viewers because I found it very out of character for the Commissioner to speak the way he did. Commissioner Kelly usually chooses his words very carefully, and I thought his remarks yesterday may have been perceived as insensitive and disrespectful. Maybe the recent controversy surrounding the NYPD's policing tactics has him on the defensive these days.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly took a beating from local politicians today after questioning why they have not spoken out against the recent gun violence in their districts. While talking with reporters yesterday, Kelly blasted community leaders who have criticized the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy for not being outraged that “96% of the shooting victims in this City are black or Latino.” Seventy-seven people were shot last week during the heat wave, including a three year-old boy who was grazed in the leg at the Roosevelt Houses in Brooklyn. The Police Commissioner said: “We have not had a demonstration about this three-year-old child. We haven't had a demonstration about the level of violence. We've had demonstrations about virtually every other issue in this City, except the level of violence, particularly in certain communities.”

Kelly’s comments stirred up several elected officials, including City Councilman Jumaane Williams, a major critic of stop-and-frisk. Councilman Williams released a statement, saying "I am outraged at the presumptuous and patently false comments of Commissioner Kelly, which directly insult communities like mine, which are grieving for our lost and trying to save our young people every day." State Senator Eric Adams called the Commissioner's comments "disgusting." Senator Adams and leaders of black and Latino anti-violence groups held a news conference, calling on the Commissioner to walk through high-crime areas with them to witness first-hand what local groups are doing to stop the violence in their communities. One city religious leader, Reverend Vernon Williams of Perfect Peace Ministries, agreed with Kelly’s comments, saying “Until the community becomes outraged, not just the politicians...it won't stop.” What do you say?

Do you agree with Commissioner Kelly’s remarks? What more can communities do to stop violence in their neighborhoods? Do stop-and-frisk procedures and gun buyback programs work?

Send your thoughts using the e-mail link above.

There has been 16 murders in the past five days. So far this years 193 murders has occurred and most by illegal guns. I feel even one murder is too many. As reported ,seven since friday and included children, clubgoers, a shopkeeper and a husband. Now in Queens this weekend three men were killed with a AK-47 and about 63 shots were fired. There are those who complain like the ACLU, who feel civil rights are being violated by NYPD'S." Stop and Frisk Policy." Well I wonder if they lost one of their love ones due to illegal guns might say," Why is not more being done" ? Let's talk about civil rights,what of those being murdered don't they have civil rights too. Let me also point out our Finest are doing their best and are being shot at and wounded in the line of duty trying to protect us. Illegal guns must be stopped and taked off the street, including those carrying them. I have a partial solution and that is if you know someone with an illegal gun, report them to the police because the life you save could be your own. As for police commissioner Kelly I say Kudos to the job he is doing. I have a voice and I intend to use it.

Frederick
Glen Oaks Village, N.Y.

These council members and all of the other politicians are off on un-important issues.
Where is the outrage of all of these people in office. A good example no one came out
with any outrage about Con-Ed or for that matter this mayor proposing 1 room apartments.

THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES SHOULD HAVE TAKEN A STAND A
LONG, LONG TIME AGO. ALL THEY ARE INTERESTED IN ARE VOTES. NOW JUST WHAT HAVE THEY ALL DONE IN THIS STOLEN AND BOUGHT FOR 3RD TERMS?

IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY GET WITH IT. NOW MANY ARE THERE FOR THEIR THIRD TERMS AND WHAT EXACTLY HAVE THEY ACCOMPLISHED?

I GO ALONG WITH KELLY.

YOU ALL NEED TO TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY. ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS HOW MANY SCHOOLS HAVE CLOSED BEFORE SOMEONE DECIDED TO GOT TO COURT. WHATEVER YOU ALL DO IT'S JUST TO LITTLE TO LATE.

maxxiee
mp

While I do not agree with the policies of Stop and Frisk, I have to accept that in this case, Kelly is totally right. Many people may do not like it, but I have not seen any face of a black leader to denounce the level of violence that has been killing people in the city. Surely we may see something now, but in any case, after Kelly spoke.

memorario

I am glad Ray Kelly spoke up.

The black & Hispanic politicians criticize Stop, Question & Frisk.

It works. Very few cops abuse it.

Are the black & Hispanic cops who do stop & frisk racist? Blacks leaders early speak out unless a white cop shoots a black person.

Doesn't.it bother them that blacks & Hispanics are the victims? Eric Adams is a retired cop but I wonder what kind of cop he was.

I a retired NYPD detective who is tired of hearing people complain about stop & frisk. It's a good tool and takes guns off the streets.

Rosemary
Woodside

It’s not up to private citizens to protect themselves from gun violence. Of course they have the right to do that.

But it’s the police who are charged with the primary responsibility to protect people from violence. The policing power is one of the most fundamental powers of government.

Commissioner Kelly should read up on that in the Constitution.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

The neighborhoods where all this violence seems to occur, are also the neighborhoods complaining about the stop-and-frisk. Hhmm makes you wonder. They see the stop-and-frisk as a violation of their privacy but yet, the violence which is completely out of control across the City, they seem to be complacent about. I see a direct correlation between the two.

I grew up in this City, raised my family here and live and work here. It hurts me everytime I hear about a shooting on the streets. A 3 yr old is killed, an innocent life snatched by gunfire. When will the residents wake up? Is this the kind of life they want to live?

Our Police Department is doing all they can to prevent tragedies like this, yet they are blamed for every idea they have to try to curb the violence. Their hands are being tied by the people they are trying to protect.

Give Commissioner Kelly a break. He is right - protest and demand an end to stop-and-frisk policy, but quietly deal with the death of a 3 yr old. Voices need to be loud and unified.

Jessica, Arden Heights, Staten Island

I was so happy when commissioner R-Kelly made that statement “yes” I support R Kelly all the way. the neighbor hood leaders don’t do much for the communities until is
time to get signatures' for their reelection, lets be realistic I am a female Hispanic from bush wick and the truth is that the people doing all these crimes are
either blacks or Latinos and the reason why no one says anything is because of the ghetto term snitches get stitches so no one wants to get involve unless
it’s happening in their family or it happens to someone they know.

let the police officer perform their duty with out being interrupted by some ignorant community leader that later on is going to need the public or police.

Bushwick female

The violence is alarming. And true the impact is felt heavily in inner city communities. I think both sides have valid points.

We must be careful not to demonize one another.

Danielle
The Bronx

EVERYONE BACK TO THEIR CORNERS. 96% OF THE SHOOTING VICTIMS IN THIS CITY IS BLACK OR LATINO.

IF COUNCILMAN WILLIAMS DOESN'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE NUMBERS, HE IS JUST PANDERING TO THE CROWD.

INDIFFERENCE IS THE CULPRIT, AND IS THE COMMON DENOMINATOR.

FIX THE INDIFFERENCE AND CONTINUE STOP AND FRISK, THE NUMBERS WILL FALL, AND OUR KIDS WILL BE SAVED.

JOE, BAY TERRACE

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

If you want your community to change, it is not the responsibility of the NYPD. It starts with YOU. It starts with strong committed community leaders and a strong committed community. Not so called leaders who are more interested in rhetoric and attention getting than actual change.

Residents of the neighborhoods that Kelly is referring to complain when they get Stopped Questioned and Frisked (because they fit a description) but they also complain when there were weekends like this past one where more than 40 people got shot. If you have nothing to hide (like a gun) you have nothing to worry about. You CANNOT have it both ways.

Patrick

I live in Brooklyn NY & got stop and search with out no probable cause. Cops find let's than a gram of marijuana and take me to precinct. Later they find I have a warrant from 2006 and I must spend the night in jail.

Once in jail I met 2 latino Mexicans who were approached by undercover cops insisting them to buy a stolen phones.

Both guys first response was to refuse and say No!!

The Cops persisted with a intimidating tone to request the 2 guys to buy the phone. The guys give in whatever they have in their pockets and end up spending a night in jail and now have a case.

Kelly keeps speaking up about his force and tries to brush the dirt under the rug tactic and forget about the minorities.

As soon as I get into the precinct another cops takes over and said he's my arresting officer.

No I'm out a day out of work and completely annoyed by the abuse of power these city cops have.

Harry

Kelly is right.

Tom richmondtown

Just the other day I was pulled over while WALKING and the cops asked me what was in my pockets. I had done nothing wrong and when the cops found my tiny pocket knife, they told me that they could take me in for that. If I didn't have PBA cards I would have been arrested.

This is RIDICULOUS!

Jack from Auburndale, Queens.

Kelly is so right, and I respect him for speaking out and saying exactly what many in the communities of color already know, but they continue to elect many of these self-serving and do-nothing politicians to represent them. What a shame! I have no respect for many of our local politicians of color (and they know who they are) that only show up to grandstand, attend funerals, and pose for photo's "after" these horrible acts of violence occur in the communities of color. They hold press conferences "afterwards" to tell their constituents "the violence must stop" and then they disappear - until the next time! Shame on them!

I whole heartedly support the "stop, question & frisk" program when applied equally and professionally by officers that have "reasonable suspicion of criminal activity." Needless to say, I do not support those officers that abuse their authority in conducting this "sensitive" activity, and those officers should be disciplined accordingly. Their approach and attitude towards an individual (in many instances) sets the stage for either cooperation or a hostile encounter which can and does (in some instances) lead to more violence. Shame on them!

Liz
Rosedale
President
Mothers Against Guns, Inc.

I totally agree with Commissioner Kelly. We definitely would have heard from the community leaders if the shooters were white.

Debbie from Whitestone

NYC and the police department need to bring back their anti-crime units back from the past.

These units went after guns, you need a special task force within the police department that will concentrate on getting guns off the streets of our city.

Mike H
Douglaston, New York

The Police Commissioner is 100% right. The community leaders need to talk to the people in their community to ban together about gun control. 77 people have been shot in different communities and its the thugs who live in the area that are doing the shooting, the mugging, etc. Meanwhile, the citizens of the area bs about the stop and frisk law. You can't have your cake and eat it too. Stop and frisk is to protect the people. Instead of bs'in about the police officers you should bs about the people in your community who are doing this and work with the police, not against them. Remember, stop and frisk can save a life.

Mimi
Great Kills

I find it ridiculous that these people think that these "rallies" will get the gun violence to stop. You think the people with guns care about these rallies? The stop and frisk policies are done for a reason. Everything is based on statistics and the fact that these people don't realize that their neighborhoods are the reason why the stop and frisk policies exist in the first place is asinine. The community leaders say "get the people who have the guns", but how do we get them without violating their rights? It's just ridiculous that the community leaders won't take the true responsibility and realize that their communities are the reason why everything has happened in the first place. They're hypocrites and point the finger just as much as the mayor and commissioner.

Andrew

Eric Adams says that the police should "do something" about the gun violence in his community, but complains when the police do just that. What is HE doing within his community?

Bruce
UES

I totally agree with Commissioner Kelly's remarks. What the communities need to do to stop this gun violence is to get to the core of this problem which is the "GANGS.". New York should do what Chicago is doing and that is breaking up these Gangs. These Gang members are injuring and or killing innocent victims rather than themselves and unfortunately some of the victims are children. Pointing fingers at each other is not going to solve the problems of guns and violence on the streets. We must continue the stop-and-frisk policy and gun buyback program and most importantly, try to get our Congressmen to get involved in this "GANG" problem and hopefully one day to get legislation to start a law to rehabilitate these Gang members and get these guns off the street.

Ralph/BayRidge

Kelly is using this bad week of gun violence to justify stop and frisk. How many guns are actually taken off the streets by stop and frisk? Not many.

This shouldn't be a game of pointing figures, it should be a collaboration of the community leaders, Kelly and the mayor to take action.

We all want safer streets.

Patrick from Astoria

The police force needs to be representative of the community it is policing. cops come in from their suburban middle class Segregated neighborhoods to police the inner city but don't understand the neighborhoods they're coming to. New York City police should be required to be NYC residents, who will better understand those they're called upon to stop, frisk question, etc. Most suburban forces require their cops to be local residents. We should do the same,

Luke
Hells Kitchen

STOPPING INNOCENT PEOPLE DOES NOTHING BUT WASTE MANPOWER. EVERYONE KNOWS THAT DRUGS AND GUNS GO HAND IN HAND SO GO AFTER THE PEOPLE BRINGING THE DRUGS AND GUNS INTO THIS CITY.

PEDRO
BRONX

Mr.Williams is completely out of touch. He needs to get out on the streets and talk to people in the community and police officers. Kelly is right. Also Mr. Williams needs to realize that stop Question and frisk does work. If you talk to police officers they explain why the stats are so low. This guy needs to become informed.

Kasey

Community leaders should reach out to kindly suggest that their religious leaders of all faiths in every neighborhood to keep the pressure on families to stay away from guns and mention horrible incidents that happened where they live to magnify the results of what guns do to their communities !!!!

Vizzione

Councilman Williams hates the police and always looks for an excuse to get in the way. Kelly was right for what he said and Williams is a poor excuse for a leader in the black community and upsetting as a politician!

Josefa

Commissioner needs to stop making excuses for what is his own failure to solve crime. The shootings within the black community are nothing new, but his failure to effectively address it, is at an "all time high".

danet

Stop and frisk is unconstitutional. Ray Kelly and Bloomberg have implemented a policy that hurts minorities.They do not care about
people that don't have money or influence.

Jonathan

I'm glad the commish made these comments. If the NYPD were to take the Police out of these areas all hell would break loose. The politicians aren't there in the streets everyday. The NYPD is lets give them credit and help them out!

afrank

The police are doing a good job with the stop and frisk movement. The community don't have badges or guns to go up against these young kids in gangs. In fact we need a way to protect ourselves better against these young kids. There are a lot of beautiful neighborhoods out that are being ran down by violent people and they really need police to protect it.

Rev. Martin

I strongly support Raymond and he is one of the most dedicated official's ever in the city of N.Y.

This is a man who very quietly serves the people of N.Y. I remember when you could not feel safe in this city. If any day they stop me I would gladly let them. If they get one gun after checking 1000 remember the one they find might have your name on it as a victim.

GreatNS

I think we should continue Mike Bloombergs plan to make the. entire city to un affordable for people of color. Eventually the crime will drop as more white professionals move into these areas.

Charles. Greenwich Village

Stop & Frisk is a racist policy. I see community presence in Harlem all the time but I have yet to see Ray Kelly. Ray Kelly should reach out to community leaders rather than diminish their efforts!

Florence, Manhattan

we live in a police state. all of our rights are gone. whether you have a joint or a political opinion, you are going to jail if the powers that be wish it so.

Jonathan east harlem

Comm Kelly comment shows the disconnect between himself and the community. Does he really think the community is not outraged! There are many org, like Man-up, life camp, community partnership organizations that are on the ground running everyday while the funding to keep this work going dries up. Also the callers speaking about more community cooperation with the police should be addressed how many times have families turned to police only to be brushed off or left alone on a limb to deal with the repercussions of the criminals.

davissh

The Mayor needs to work with Police Commissioner Kelly and not against him. He needs to put more cops on the street and not worry about how much soda people are drinking.

Mimi
Great Kills

I believe Kelly was right about bring light about the Black Politicians and community leaders, because there are a lot of them that put work in within the community and their work get pushed under the cover. Like Rubin Wills does a lot for Jamaica Queens but the people hear nothing about it. That's because if the people know about these programs it will call for more funding.

reginald

I think that the public fell right into the trap set by the commissioner. he purposely used the recent crime spree to justify the heavily criticized stop and frisk policy when in fact one has nothing to do with the other. Stop and frisk which is not a bad tool if used fairly, however it is targeting people of color good and bad. If you were to use the stop and frisk in white neighborhoods you would probably recover more drugs, guns and stop crime!

Stop and frisk cast a wide net over people of color no matter where they live so the notion that its targeting kid in crime ridden neighborhoods is not entirely true. HOWEVER, it cast too small of a net in for other people. S&F just bolsters the statistic inaccurately showing people of color commit more crime. Which of course it would if people of color are all you're watching! The statistics would then be used to justify more stop and frisks!!!

Communities of color have always complained about violence but I have rarely heard of the the police partnering and supporting with the community to stop it. Also, because the distrust of police is so bad coupled with fear of of the criminals that fighting crime is no easy task. I don’t even think the police even want to stop crime, but just CONTAIN IT TO THE BLACK COMMUNITIES!

Kelly should put his money were his mouth is and stop retaliating for bad press by making inaccurate and childish remarks. The police department has to:

1-show respect for the community
2-lend resources and support in the way of flyers and information about crime activity, neighborhood predators, an anonymous hotline, and prompt assistance when called
3-regular meeting with core community groups

....and most importantly....ONLY HIRE COPS WHO GIVE A DAMN!

Also note, I noticed that callers and people who supported the S&F policies live in neighborhoods where there are probably no S&F. Let a cop stop their kid!! Also, a lot these people would be more outraged about shooting a dog than a black kid!

diane

I told my 84 year old mother, who suffers from dementia, that I was going to march against stop and frisk, because close to 700,000 black and hispanic boys and men were stopped last year, and she got instantly got to the heart of it when she replied “ I can’t imagine what those mothers must feel like when their sons go out of the house and run the risk of being stopped by the cops every single day. “ Even my demented 84 year old white mother gets it. It’s unconscionable that parents live in fear every day that their sons will end up spread eagled on the hood of a car, or worse, while walking to and from school, the store, or work, minding their own business. Some folks just don’t get it, it doesn’t happen in their neighborhood, they have no empathy for what “others” live through. I’d like to see how they would react if it happened to their sons 20, 30 times a year.

Meryl from Manhattan

Police commissioner Kelly may have a point. Let us not berate one another, let us offer solutions and work toward a common goal of eradicating the problem.

Damond
Clinton Hill, Brooklyn