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NYPD's New Head of Training Wants Officers to Stop Cursing

By Trevor Kapp | November 25, 2014 3:33pm
 The NYPD's new Deputy Commissioner of Training Michael Julian said he will train officers to stop using profanities.
The NYPD's new Deputy Commissioner of Training Michael Julian said he will train officers to stop using profanities.
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Mario Tama/Getty Images

ONE POLICE PLAZA — The NYPD is cleaning up its language.

The NYPD’s newly-minted Deputy Commissioner of Training said Tuesday one of his top priorities will be getting foul-mouthed officers to stop using profanities when engaging with civilians.

“They will stop using curse words because a police officer never uses a curse word in an emergency, listen to any audio tape,” Michael Julian said Tuesday at One Police Plaza, where he was sworn as the new training czar.

“It’s for effect, and we can teach them how to control their language. It’s not that hard," he said.

New Yorkers said they liked the idea.

“It’s long overdue,” said Andrea Garrett, 45, of the Lower East Side. “It seems like if we curse at them, they arrest us for disorderly conduct. Why should they be allowed to curse at us?”

Usman Nawaz, 32, a lawyer from Coney Island, said the new edict will help the department’s image.

“It’s always a good idea if you can refrain from cursing,” Nawaz said. “It can be intimidating if police are using bad language, especially with all these cases of brutality.”

But one long-time NYPD veteran, who did not want to be identified, said getting officers to watch their mouths is easier said than done.

“You’re not gonna get cops to stop cursing,” he said. “It’s the element. Not everyone we deal with is nice and friendly.”