NEW YORK, NY December 14, 2007 —Each year, settling civil claims brought against the Police Department costs taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. Since 2002, these settlements totaled almost a half billion dollars. Just less than half of that went to satisfy excessive force type allegations.

But for years, civil rights lawyers have contended the biggest loss is not just to the city treasury. They say the NYPD and the city don't learn all they can from the claims and settlements. WNYC’s Bob Hennelly has this analysis.