CM Morano on absence of Police Commissioner and chief at hearing

Thank you, Chair.

First, I want to recognize the men and women of the NYPD.

The reduction in shootings and murders that you've cited are a significant...

Accomplishment and our police officers deserve a whole lot of recognition for that.

Before my questions, I do want to express some disappointment about who isn't here today.

Inspector and Deputy Commissioner, I appreciate both of you appearing and this isn't a reflection on either of you personally, but we're holding a hearing about the accuracy of crime statistics and the safety of millions of New Yorkers.

The Police Commission

Commissioner isn't here, and neither is a chief.

I mean, I understand the commissioner can't attend every hearing, but the council and this committee has an obligation to oversee the NYPD, and I think a hearing of this importance warrants representation from the department's senior operational leadership.

I'm wondering if you can explain who made the decision about which NYPD officials would testify today, and why wasn't a chief or the commissioner available?

Council member.

So Inspector Hout is the commanding officer of the Office of Crime Control Strategies.

He is exactly the right person to speak to crime data and crime trends in the city.

There are other executives who do that as well, but he is certainly more than qualified for that and has an incredibly important role in that exact process.

He lives and breathes this every day.

The quality assurance section is part of professional standards division, which falls under me.

I am responsible ultimately, I report to the police commissioner, for the auditing that I was describing earlier, and you have the right people here to answer your questions.

Terrific.