NCJ Number
38532
Date Published
1976
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS VIDEO TAPE PROGRAM IS A GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION OF POLICING AND CRIME IN THE HIGHEST CRIME AREA OF NEW YORK CITY, THE SOUTH BRONX. THE DOCUMENTARY, WITHOUT NARRATION, IS PRODUCED IN THE CINEMA VERITE STYLE.
Abstract
THE POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE INTERVIEWED ARE UNEXPECTEDLY CANDID. THE POLICE TAPE IS NOT JUST 'A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A COP.' THE THREE-MONTH FILMING AIDED THE PRODUCERS IN BREAKING THROUGH THE OFFICERS' CUSTOMARY RESERVE. ONE OF THEM STATES, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT DESPITE ALL THE CRITICISM ABOUT POLICE BEATING UP THE RESIDENTS, THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO NEED TO BE BEATEN UP BECAUSE THAT IS ALL THEY UNDERSTAND. FURTHERMORE, THE OFFICER WOULD NOT HESITATE TO DO IT IF THE SITUATION CALLED FOR IT. SCENES IN THIS PRESENTATION RANGE FROM THE STATIONHOUSE QUESTIONING OF A 69 YEAR OLD WOMAN WHO HAD SPLIT HER DAUGHTER'S FACE OPEN WITH AN AXE; TO AN APATHETIC RAPIST WHO FAILS TO REACT TO QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE DETAILS OF HIS CRIME; TO A YOUTH LYING DEAD IN THE STREET, STABBED FOURTEEN TIMES AS A RESULT OF AN INCIDENT WE WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE CONSIDERED INCONSEQUENTIAL. THE THEN BRONX BOROUGH COMMANDER, ANTHONY BOUZA, EXPLAINS THAT THE PEOPLE OF THE GHETTO ARE SO BESET BY POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, AND DISAPPOINTMENT THAT THE SLIGHTEST INCIDENT MIGHT PROVOKE A VIOLENT OVER-RESPONSE. HE GOES ON TO DISCUSS THE PREDILECTION TOWARDS VIOLENT CRIME CAUSED BY THE CONDITIONS THAT ARE PRESENT IN THE GHETTO AND THE PARADOXICAL POSITION OF THE POLICE. INCREASED EFFICIENCY ON THE PART OF THE POLICE SERVES TO DECREASE THE VISIBILITY OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE GHETTO WHICH SERVES TO INCREASE THEIR INEVITABILITY. (SNI ABSTRACT)...PO