Former NYC Police Commissioner Howard Safir Dies at Age 81

Howard Safir, who served as New York City police commissioner under Mayor Giuliani, has died at age 81.
As commissioner from 1996-2000, Safir oversaw declining crime rates but faced criticism over police brutality incidents.
He expanded anti-drug efforts and promoted new technologies like DNA testing in police work.
Safir defended the NYPD's tactics but was accused of racial insensitivity in handling fatal shootings of Black men.
While credited with reducing crime, his tenure was marked by controversies over police misconduct and his own ethics.