This is a long-form podcast episode from The Intercept, discussing the case of Alberta Spruill and its implications for policing reform in New York City. Here's a summary of the episode:
**Main Points:**
* Alberta Spruill was killed by police officers in 2003 during a narcotics raid on her apartment building.
* The NYPD had been conducting a series of aggressive "knock-and-looks" raids, which involved entering buildings without warrants to search for marijuana.
* Officer Mark Cohn and his partner allegedly used excessive force to subdue Spruill, who was unarmed and trying to escape.
**Investigation and Reforms:**
* The NYPD initially claimed that the raid was justified, but internal investigations found that they had made errors in identifying Spruill's apartment building as a potential hub for marijuana distribution.
* A grand jury declined to indict Cohn or his partner, citing insufficient evidence.
* In 2012, Cohn and his partner were sued by Spruill's family for damages.
**Current State:**
* The NYPD has made some changes to its policies, including requiring more corroboration of tips from informants and better documentation of their reliability.
* However, many critics argue that these reforms do not go far enough and that the police department still maintains a culture of impunity.
* Former review board investigator William Aquino said that he was often pressured or forced to alter his official findings in cases involving NYPD misconduct.
**Impact:**
* Spruill's case has become a symbol of the struggles faced by communities of color in New York City, who are often targeted by police raids and harassment.
* The episode highlights the need for greater accountability and reform within the NYPD, as well as the importance of press freedom and independent reporting on police misconduct.
**Guests:**
* Cynthia Howell, Spruill's niece and a member of Families United 4 Justice, a group advocating for justice and accountability in policing cases.
* Joel Berger, an attorney who has represented victims of police abuse and is critical of the city's handling of these cases.
Overall, this episode provides a detailed account of Alberta Spruill's tragic death and its ongoing impact on communities of color in New York City. It also highlights the need for greater accountability and reform within the NYPD, as well as the importance of press freedom and independent reporting on police misconduct.
**Main Points:**
* Alberta Spruill was killed by police officers in 2003 during a narcotics raid on her apartment building.
* The NYPD had been conducting a series of aggressive "knock-and-looks" raids, which involved entering buildings without warrants to search for marijuana.
* Officer Mark Cohn and his partner allegedly used excessive force to subdue Spruill, who was unarmed and trying to escape.
**Investigation and Reforms:**
* The NYPD initially claimed that the raid was justified, but internal investigations found that they had made errors in identifying Spruill's apartment building as a potential hub for marijuana distribution.
* A grand jury declined to indict Cohn or his partner, citing insufficient evidence.
* In 2012, Cohn and his partner were sued by Spruill's family for damages.
**Current State:**
* The NYPD has made some changes to its policies, including requiring more corroboration of tips from informants and better documentation of their reliability.
* However, many critics argue that these reforms do not go far enough and that the police department still maintains a culture of impunity.
* Former review board investigator William Aquino said that he was often pressured or forced to alter his official findings in cases involving NYPD misconduct.
**Impact:**
* Spruill's case has become a symbol of the struggles faced by communities of color in New York City, who are often targeted by police raids and harassment.
* The episode highlights the need for greater accountability and reform within the NYPD, as well as the importance of press freedom and independent reporting on police misconduct.
**Guests:**
* Cynthia Howell, Spruill's niece and a member of Families United 4 Justice, a group advocating for justice and accountability in policing cases.
* Joel Berger, an attorney who has represented victims of police abuse and is critical of the city's handling of these cases.
Overall, this episode provides a detailed account of Alberta Spruill's tragic death and its ongoing impact on communities of color in New York City. It also highlights the need for greater accountability and reform within the NYPD, as well as the importance of press freedom and independent reporting on police misconduct.
, I mean, I've seen some crazy stuff in my life but that just hits too close to home 
. As someone who's been around for a while, I know how the system can work against you, especially when it comes to communities of color 
. It's like, they're already fighting an uphill battle just to make ends meet and then suddenly they're faced with police raids and harassment? No wonder people feel like they've got nothing to lose 
. And don't even get me started on the reforms that have been put in place, I mean, it's all well and good but until there's real change, people are still gonna keep getting hurt 
. I'm trying not to be too cynical, but come on, we've seen this play out so many times before 
. Anyway, I think what really gets me is how Spruill's family has been fighting for justice all these years, and it just feels like no one's listening 
.
... it's no wonder the reforms are so watered down. i'm all for giving people second chances, but when it comes to police misconduct, there gotta be consequences 
: 92% of NYC residents are people of color 
, which is like, super relevant when you're talking about policing reform 
. did u know that between 2010-2020, there were over 6k reported incidents of police misconduct in NY City? 
that's like, a lot of unnecessary violence and trauma to communities already struggling 
: Alberta Spruill was killed by police in 2003, which is like, over 20 years ago 
. but her case still hasn't been fully resolved 
, and it's a total example of how the system can fail communities of color 
.
. 75% of cops in NY City have no experience with police reform 
. like, how can they expect to change if they don't even know what's wrong? 
, and it's so important that we keep pushing for accountability and reform within the NYPD 
. Spruill's case may be 20 years old, but her legacy lives on 
, and I'm all about celebrating that 
. The fact that they got a slap on the wrist from the grand jury just shows how easy it is for cops to get away with stuff when they're powerful enough. We need more than just "less aggressive knock-and-looks" – we need real accountability and systemic change 
but seriously though, this is a huge issue that needs to be addressed ASAP 
. It's so important to have honest conversations about these topics, even if they're uncomfortable.
they're being attacked from all sides... it's crazy. if we want to hold cops accountable, we need a free press that won't back down. 
. We're finally starting to see some real change happening within the NYPD, and that's a huge step forward! The fact that they've implemented some new policies to reduce corruption is awesome 
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and dat officer mark cohn was all like "i'm in the right" but internal investigations said otherwise... like, can't u just tell the truth for once? 
.
It's all about creating a culture of accountability within the department, you know?
. We need real change here, not just a bunch of lip service 
. I feel like the system failed her & her family in so many ways... first, the NYPD did a bad knock-and-look raid that ended in her being killed, then they didn't even do a good investigation to make sure it was fair 
. It's crazy to me that we're still having these conversations 20 years later... shouldn't we have fixed this by now?