Despite being only a small fraction of the force, many police killings are carried out by on-duty officers who are not wearing uniforms.
An analysis by The Intercept, using data from the Fatal Encounters project, found that plainclothes cops play a role in such killings disproportionate to their relatively small numbers among the NYPD’s ranks. Plainclothes police have been involved in nearly a third of all fatal shooting incidents recorded since 2000, according to The Intercept study.
IMPACT
- WNYC — Reported on The Intercept’s finding that plainclothes officers account for nearly a third of fatal NYPD shootings.
- Gothamist — The NYPD disbanded its plainclothes “Anti-Crime” units in June 2020, citing the disproportionate number of fatal shootings involving plainclothes officers — a finding first reported by The Intercept.
- THE CITY — Referenced the Intercept’s reporting in 2022 when Mayor Adams revived plainclothes-style policing through new “Neighborhood Safety Teams.”
- NYCLU — Cited The Intercept’s data in legislative testimony on the NYPD’s public safety blueprint and oversight.
- Project Censored — Recognized the reporting as an underreported story, republishing the key finding that undercover officers are involved in nearly 33% of NYPD fatal shootings.
