6 The queens Courier • JANUARY 3, 2013 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com Claims against NYPD up Murders, shootings down in 2012: BY MELISSA CHAN thing, and they settle for reasons that have ‘The safest big city in [email protected] nothing to do with guilt or innocence,” he said. “When you settle cases when the spiked 35 percent in the last fiscal year, going to lead to more and more cases and America is safer than ever’police are not doing anything wrong, it’sClaims filed against New York’s finest leading the city to shell out nearly $186 more tax money being wasted.” million in settlement costs, according to Vallone said few cases involving false BY BILLY RENNISON When murders reached their a report issued by Comptroller John Liu. arrest and police brutality are justifiable, [email protected] all-time high in the city in 1990, The NYPD was responsible for more with the majority stemming from “sleazy” nearly six New Yorkers were claims during the 2011 fiscal year than any lawyers looking for a payout. Murders and shootings fell dra- killed each day. Even with that other city agency. “Sometimes good cops are targeted by matically in the city last year as number dropping to just over one bell for the city,” Liu said. he surge “Drug dealers are making oughs ticked slightly upward. der or shooting is one too many.Bloomberg and Police“The number of murders thislegitimate cases,” he said.T-per day, Bloomberg said one mur-other felonies in the five bordirt bags, and then there are“The surge in claims against the NYPD is an alarm with better risk management The only people who lose Mayor Michael Bloomberg. “The as Operation Impact, which fun-claimscredited police initiatives suchin recorded city history,” saidselling drugs. It’s amazing.Commissioner Raymond Kellyyear will be lower than any timemore money suing cops thanin “The trend can and must be stemmed and reversed including training, clearer are the taxpayers.” fact that the safest big city in neled resources to high-crime accountability and the con- The city doled out over America is safer than ever is a areas, for the decreases.heTTagains vening of a multi-disciplinary $550 million — a 5 percent testament to the hard work and “We’re taking 8,000 weapons task force.” jump from the year before — determination of the men and annually out of the hands of The 114th Precinct in nYPD is an in total personal injury and women who put their lives on the people we stop, 800 of them ille- Astoria topped the list in property damage settlements line for us every day — and it also gal handguns,” said Kelly. “We’re Queens with 53 claims, the in 2011, according to report reflects our commitment to doing preventing crimes before some- comptroller’s report showed, alarm bell findings. everything possible to stop gun one is killed and before someone while the 113th Precinct in Queens had the largest violence.” else has to go to prison for murder Jamaica had the highest num- number of property damage In the five boroughs, there were or other serious crimes. ber of crime complaints in for The ciTY claims in the city with 3,425 414 homicides and 1,353 shoot- Guns remained the leading cause the borough with 2,370. but the second lowest num- ing incidents, as of December 23, of murder within the city; 57 per- But Councilmember Peter Comptroller John Liu ber of personal injury claims the most recent numbers avail- cent (237) of killings were by guns Vallone, chair of the Public with 2,550. able -- both record lows since last year. Safety Committee, defend- Personal injury claims comparable statistics began being In Queens, murders fell from 82 ed the NYPD. Vallone include medical malpractice, kept in 1963. The previous record to 80 last year while shooting inci- said claims against cops surge when the police action, civil rights violations, motor low in murders was 471 in 2009. dents jumped more than 6 percent. Corporation Counsel of the city’s Law vehicle accidents and injuries that occur in Rape, robbery, assault and bur- Within the 112th Precinct, zero Department settles too many “nuisance” schools or from defective sidewalks. glary saw slight upticks while homicides were recorded while cases regardless of merit. The NYPD did not immediately com- grand larceny rose more than 9 the 111th and 104th precincts “The Corporation Counsel settles every- ment. percent. each had one. 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