NYPD Frisked Blacks at 5 Times Rate of Whites

The NYPD conducted more than 500,000 stop-and-frisks last year, with blacks five times more likely to be searched than whites, according to statistics released yesterday.

Blacks accounted for 52% of the 508,540 individuals stopped and checked last year, according to data released by the City Council's Public Safety Committee.

That percentage has changed little in nearly a decade - it was 50% in 2000 and 52% in 1998.

But the total number of frisks soared from the 97,296 conducted in 2002.

Among the top reasons cops gave for stopping an individual were that the suspect was in a high crime area or had made "furtive movements," according to the statistics.

Hispanics accounted for 29% of the searches last year and whites 10%, the data showed.

Critics long have argued the NYPD engages in racial profiling by concentrating on blacks and Hispanics for stop-and-frisks.

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The half-million searches resulted in 21,269 arrests. Black suspects accounted for 51% of those charged, Hispanics 30% and whites 12%.

Police brass have countered that cops stop suspects based on crime victims' descriptions.

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