Bratton On Handcuffing Prisoners In The Front: 'It's Not A Big Deal'
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police Commissioner Bill Bratton seemed irritated Monday about a report saying there's a new policy allowing prisoners to be handcuffed in the front, instead of the back.
An NYPD spokesman told the New York Post the new policy is in the revised patrol guide. He said front-cuffing will only be allowed for suspects with medical or physical disabilities.
He told the newspaper officers will use their discretion to determine who is safe enough to qualify.
Critics told the Post the practice of handcuffing suspects in front is dangerous, and even led to the fatal shooting of two detectives in 1989.
Asked about it, Bratton was blunt.
"You're making a lot more of it than it is," he told reporters, including WCBS 880's Rich Lamb, on Monday. "It's always been the ability of an officer, exigent circumstances allowing, to make that decision. The practice and recommended procedures are to rear-cuff, but on occasion medical situations, etc., the officer would have the ability to make that decision to front-cuff. Those are exceptional circumstances. That's not the standard procedure.
"It's not a big deal," the commissioner added. " ... I know the sources are trying to make a big thing out of this, as if it's a major change in policy. Sorry, it's not that."