The Greatest NYPD Cop You've Never Heard Of: The Progressive Policing of James Fyfe

Minority of One

In this episode, I interview Dr. Candace McCoy, a prominent criminologist, about her late husband, Dr. James J. Fyfe. After working as an NYPD cop during the 1960s and 1970s, Fyfe earned a PhD in criminal justice and became an outspoken advocate of police reform, testifying in many police misconduct lawsuits on behalf of the plaintiffs. Among his top concerns were excessive force and racism within law enforcement. In this capacity, he was instrumental both in ending the longstanding policy in most police departments of allowing officers to shoot fleeing, unarmed suspects as standard protocol and exposing the New Jersey State Police for racially profiling nonwhite drivers. 0:00-1:10: Intro 1:11-9:40: Candace's background, how she and James met, and why he was a true "gentle giant" 9:41-25:55: James's childhood, family, how James strove to prioritize nondiscrimination and protection of human life as a patrolman, what he called "separate trigger finger," and elective vs. non-elective shootings, my own "72 hour rule," and when lethal force can be necessary for police to use 25:56-38:37: How James helped end the "fleeing felon rule" and his relationship with Chief Patrick Murphy 38:38-51:22: Why James didn't testify in suits against the NYPD and broke with many fellow progressives on the shooting of Amadou Diallo and the problems with Broken Windows policing 51:23-57:25: The need for better police training and the use of force continuum and why it's important for both teachers and cops not to escalate unnecessarily 57:26-1:07: Why James believed root causes of crime were important, Candace's take on "defund the police" and the drug war and how she thinks James might have viewed these issues. 1:07-1:24: How James helped bust the New Jersey State Troops For Racial Profiling; closing remarks