NY Police Unions Denied Pursuit of Stop-and-frisk Challenge

A U.S. judge ruled earlier today that the police unions of New York city cannot challenge a settlement pertaining to the very controversial stop-and-frisk police tactic. U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres denied the request made by the unions for her to intervene the two class action lawsuits. Torres stated that the unions cannot pursue the appeal that Mayor Bill de Blasio had already chosen to dismiss. U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin had ruled that the stop-and-frisk occurrences were largely based on illegal racial profiling since it was mostly minorities which were affected. Scheindlin also ordered a federal monitor to oversee many changes in the department. Former Mayor Bloomberg had previously appealed the ruling and held that the practice was necessary for the safety of the public. However, de Blasio who publicly opposed the stop-and-frisk practices stated that he would agree to the reforms ordered by Scheindlin and drop the appeal.