NYPD officer cites ‘courtesy cards,’ used by friends and family of cops, as source of corruption

By JAKE OFFENHARTZ
Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City police officer is speaking out against the use of “courtesy cards” by friends and relatives of cops, accusing department leaders of maintaining a sprawling system of impunity that has fueled both reckless driving and racist traffic stops. The laminated cards have long been treated as a perk of the job, allowing those with a connection to law enforcement to get out of a traffic stop or other minor infraction. But in a federal lawsuit filed in Manhattan, Officer Mathew Bianchi described a practice of selective enforcement that has become increasingly brazen, with consequences for officers who don’t follow the unwritten policy.