Long-Secret NYPD Misconduct Complaints Go Public

New York City NY

04 March, 2021

2:29 PM

Description

NEW YORK CITY — Thousands of NYPD disciplinary records once held in shadowy secrecy are now open in the light of day. The Civilian Complaint Review Board on Thursday released a massive database of misconduct complaints against city cops. Mayor Bill de Blasio said the release followed the repeal of 50-a — a state law a transparency law long used by NYPD officials to deny requests — and a recent court decision that shot down a last-ditch lawsuit by police unions to keep the records secret. He said the appeals court Wednesday night gave the final go-ahead to publish the complaints. "We would have released a long time ago, but for the court case brought by some of the unions," he said. "But now the court has been clear: we are absolutely authorized to release and that release will begin immediately." The fight over 50-a went on for years but turned a corner after the killing of George Floyd and a wave of sweeping police reforms. Lawmakers repealed the law, momentarily opening up disciplinary files before police unions filed a lawsuit. The unions claimed releasing discipline records put police officers in danger, but that claim carried little water with judges. Other police departments across the country routinely release such files without any violent backlash, the judges wrote. De Blasio, who previously declared "good riddance" to 50-A, said the NYPD will start releasing files next week. Check out the misconduct database here.