NYPD's Kelly: Stop-and-Frisk "Necessary" for Policing

Says they can't do their jobs without it

Ray Kelly says if his department is guilty of anything, it's saving lives—7,383 lives to be exact. In the 11 years since Kelly became New York City's Police Commissioner, there have been 7,383 fewer deaths than the 11 years before Kelly took over, he said Tuesday.

Key to that drop in crime, Kelly says, is stop-and-frisk, New York's much-criticized program that allows police to stop and question anyone if they suspect wrongdoing. Critics say the program is institutionalized racial profiling and point to the disproportionate number of stops that affect minorities.

"It's a practice that's essential," Kelly said on Tuesday's Morning Joe. "You can't police without doing it."