New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton on Tuesday challenged his predecessor Ray Kelly to back up his claim that the department is under-counting shootings in the city.
"It's amazing what comments you'll make when selling a book," Bratton said when asked about the allegations during a press conference.
Kelly is currently promoting his memoir,
"Vigilance: My Life Serving America and Protecting Its Empire City" and has been a frequent critic of current Mayor Bill de Blasio.
"Those comments were outrageous," Bratton said. "Shame on him. Let him back up that allegation."
Bratton said Kelly should "stand up" and "be a big man."
Kelly's accusations came during a radio interview recorded December 21 and set to air in January on AM 970.
"I think you have to take a look at those numbers ... because I think there is some issues with the numbers that are being put out," Kelly says in the interview with city employee union head Gregory Floyd. "I think there is some redefinition going on as to what amounts to a shooting ... that sort of thing."
NYPD chief spokesman, Stephen Davis, said shootings were counted by the same method they were when Kelly was commissioner under Mayors David Dinkins and Michael Bloomberg.
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