By David Cruz

One day after celebrating her 24^th year at the NYPD, Inspector Nilda Hofmann faced a tense standoff with two police skeptics calling for more accountability within the Police Department. Their weapons: debate and rebuttals that seared with hostility.

So was the case at a raging 52^nd Precinct Community Council meeting on Oct. 16. The monthly forum normally hears from Inspector Hofmann updating neighbors on serious crimes while promoting anti-crime initiatives. Hofmann just celebrated her first year at the precinct that covers Norwood, Bedford Park, Kingsbridge, and Fordham.

And though quality of life topics are usually heard at Council meetings, the gathering focused more on police tactics, a topic brought up by Ephraim Cruz and Jose LaSalle.  Mr. Cruz and Mr. LaSalle pressured the 52^nd Precinct for more transparency. Mr. Cruz has spoken at other precincts calling for reforms in an agency where cool relations exist in some communities. Mr. LaSalle is a trainer for Copwatch Patrol Unit, a group that routinely videotapes police exchanges.

The pointed confrontation became a rare exposition of clashing ideologies–blind loyalties by a community council versus critics of a department perceived as distant. At times the verbal back and forth touched on race relations (an African-American man lamented that Assemblyman Jeff Dinowitz would not understand minorities since he was a “middle-age white guy.”).

Allotted three minutes to speak, Mr. Cruz, once an officer for the 52^nd Precinct, cited the financial blowback caused by police abuse cases, which amounted to nearly half a billion dollars in payouts for victims since 2009, according to the city Law Department.

“In the Bronx we know that’s money that we could do a lot for senior services, for youth services…and after school programs and so forth,” Mr. Cruz said, later requesting Hofmann if she were willing share details on cop abuse cases.

Inspector Hofmann responded with a firm no, explaining those matters are handled by the Civilian Complaint Review Board and Internal Affairs Bureau, agencies that monitor police abuse cases. Inspector Hofmann eventually told Mr. Cruz that only one complaint was made against police in September when compared to seven the same time a year ago.

Inspector Hofmann reported that overall cop abuse complaints went from 45 to 25, the biggest reduction within the 52nd.

“You know the numbers,” Inspector Hofmann told Mr. Cruz. “How is that going to change things?”

“What’s the nature to those numbers?” asked Mr. Cruz, pointedly.

“I am not going to give that,” Inspector Hofmann said, later adding that she’ll personally reprimand an officer that’s deemed unprofessional.

A wide-eyed Brenda Caldwell, the long-serving Council president, admonished Mr. Cruz and any potential cop haters Council meetings are not “a forum to talk about the police and what they’re not doing right.”

At times she pounded the gavel, as aggressive crosstalk by Mr. Cruz and several members of the Council raged.

But Mr. LaSalle ignored Ms. Caldwell’s warnings.

Instead he called for changes within the NYPD patrol guide that ranged from the demeanor of an officer, their incessant talking on cell phones while driving, and wearing black ribbons around their badges.

“A lot of time it covers their ID number and that’s something goes against the patrol guide,” said Mr. LaSalle.

Hofmann later explained that the cell phone ban rule had been waived for officers while the black ribbon is often used to commemorate the life of an officer who passed.

Several local lawmakers eventually stepped in to serve as power brokers in the divide. Assemblyman Jose Rivera, making a first-time appearance at the Council for the year, appeared to have found a middle ground.

“I enjoyed this exchange,” said Assemblyman Rivera. “The question is at what point do we all recognize that we’re not going to turn against each other? Because then we’re not going to be able to resolve anything.”