The report is definitely positive and a step in the right direction. I think it's because of several different factors and better training is definitely one of them. But I think officers are generally also more aware of cell phones and how easily videos could end up on the Internet and are more hesitant to fire. The viewers also bought up a good point that officers are still using other means to subdue people, such as pepper-spray and Tasers. My thoughts are, there are always going to be some bad apples who abuse power, but lesser shootings and having alternatives to guns are always good things. I think inevitably mistakes are made as cops deal with making snap life-and-death decisions, but what the report shows is that the NYPD is learning from its mistakes and adapting.

The number of deadly police-involved shootings in the City is on the decline. According to statistics from the NYPD, there were 33 percent fewer people shot and killed in 2010 compared with the year before.

The NYPD says police officers shot and killed eight people last year compared with 93 in 1971, when the department first began keeping these records. Another 16 were shot and wounded last year, as opposed to 221 in 1971.

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says the improvement is due to more police training and a reduction in crime overall.

What’s your reaction to these statistics? What do you attribute the decrease in firearm discharges to? Have you noticed a reduction in crime in your neighborhood?

What does it say about the NYPD that it takes them 10 and 1/2 months to do the math on the 2010 stats? It says that they are desperately in need of some good press right now. I can hardly wait until next November when we can see the statistics on the increase in baton use between 2010 and 2011.

Thomas

I've lived in NYC my whole life. I grew up in Hells Kitchen but now I live in Washington Heights. Shortly after Sean Bell was slaughtered, my high school English teacher, fellow students and I protested against the police commissioner and the cops who murdered Sean Bell. I am absolutely appalled that the officers will not be charged. I've lost all faith in our legal system because of verdicts such as this. I have no respect for our police officers and I don't believe they are protecting our streets, but making them more correct. I hope that one day, we can have honest people enforcing the law and decent people leading them.

Maia

what would happen if u took all the unnecessary bullets nypd shot into Sean Bell (50) & Amadu Diallo(81) and counted each one as a separate "shoot and kill"? Wonder how that would that change the statistics?!

Good less people are shot, but am not sure the reasoning for the decline is completely correct. How many times did police feel it necessary to taser or pepper-spray people? Stats these days should include these 'newer' techniques.

Arlene
brooklyn

LESS KILLING IS ALWAYS GOOD. THE FIGURES REFLECT MORE SURVIVORS. I WOULD ASK THAT THEY DO A STUDY ON HOW MANY ROUNDS OF AMMO USED IN EACH OF THOSE YEARS.

BEFORE WE CELEBRATE, WE SHOULD ASK IS IT BECAUSE OF GREAT RESTRAINT BEING EXERCISED BY THE OFFICERS, OR, IS IT BECAUSE THEY ARE TERRIBLE AT HITTING THEIR TARGET?

JOE
BAY TERRACE

EMS should get credit for saving lives because they are much more well equipped and far more medically advanced than in 1971.

Give some credit where credit is due. The Bronx has much to many shootings. I think it’s about time that more attention is paid to the outer boroughs and this administration should stop tooting their own horn.

We in the outer boroughs never seem to count at all.

maxxee
mp

Great news! I strongly believe that greater monitoring / internal review of Police officers as to, why the need for fire arm discharge, camera everywhere, public video taping incidents has resulted in PO thinking twice before discharging their fire arm. Conclusion, "The Blue Wall Of Silence," is speaking out more by the evidence "camera / video tape" presented by the public.

I see no reduction in crime in my neighborhood. Crime in my neighborhood has increased.

Marlene
Old Millbasin, Bklyn

Maybe there are fewer shootings. But virtually every week there is a case of a copy brutally attacking someone. They seem unable to restrain themselves.

Joe
Port Richmond, SI

The public is watching so the NYPD is being more cautious about shooting innocent people.

I think that NYC police officers are shooting people less, because they're less likely to get away with their irrational decisions to fire.

It really is great that police shoot less. Training and pepper spray must have helped. But the cops are just using this info for publicity after Wall Street raid.

African American's have talked about police brutality for years, we have even seen video proof, and we are always told not to judge until all the facts are in, or you cannot believe what you just saw with your own eyes. As soon as a bunch of white kids get peppered sprayed now the NYPD is brutal...give me a break!!!

Charles
Chelsea

I feel like how do we know the accuracy of these statistics?

The stats are down becuase the brutality is against white people they cant shoot whites but they can beat the hell out of them.

Less fatal shootings by the police is great news and would be even greater if they would represent the communities they are serving. In other words, we need an inclusive police body that is more sensitive to the myriad of ethnic groups that compose NYC. Public scrutiny and city-wide surveillance are a factor too.

Rafael
Bushwick

There's an interesting book that made the best seller lists called "Freakonomics". The author, an economist, has a chapter on why the decrease in violent crime during the 1990's was due to the Roe vs. Wade supreme court decision, which prevented women from being forced to bring unwanted children into the world.

The authors claim that there is no evidence that Giuliani's get-tough stance was a major factor.

I am not pro-abortion, but I think the argument that preventing children who will be abused and therefore may become violent criminals from being brought into the world may indeed reduce the number of potential criminals.

Other than that, most police violence is associated with domestic disputes, so my guess is that training has improved.

Peter
Upper West Side