By JOSH MARGOLIN and AARON KATERSKY
Article Reprint
A federal judge this morning rebuked the New York Police Department in stunning fashion, declaring the force’s controversial so-called “stop-and-frisk” policy unconstitutional as currently practiced.
In a ruling spiked with dramatic flourishes, U.S. District Judge Shira Sheindlin said stop-and-frisk, a tactic in which cops can search anyone regardless of whether they believe a crime has been committed, has allowed police officers to unfairly target blacks and Hispanics far more than whites. Sheindlin said the policy could continue, however, under strong new restrictions.