New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) Chair Fred Davie issued the following statement on Thursday after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation repealing New York Civil Rights Law Section 50-a:
“Today, New York State has declared a renewed commitment to transparency in policing. This new era is rooted in the fundamental, democratic notion that when members of the public can see what is going on, they are better equipped to change it.
“For too long, the law has prohibited New Yorkers from accessing many details about the police disciplinary process, making it impossible for them to know how – or if – an officer who engaged in misconduct was disciplined. This is no more. Following tireless work by advocates, lawmakers, and concerned civilians, New York’s biggest barrier to transparency has been dismantled.
“As people in New York City and all across America demand police reform, it is incumbent upon us to identify ways to improve the police disciplinary system. The repeal of 50-a authorizes the CCRB to provide the public with information about officers in their own complaints as well as the disciplinary records of other officers in their communities. This is a major step toward bolstering public confidence in the system, allowing for more comprehensive reporting about police misconduct, and ultimately, changing the dynamic between police and civilians for the better.”
About New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board
The New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is the largest police oversight entity in the nation and is empowered to investigate, mediate, prosecute, and recommend disciplinary action for complaints alleging misconduct by NYPD officers. See NYC Charter § 440(c)(1).
The agency’s jurisdiction includes excessive and unnecessary force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, and use of offensive language.
To further this mission, CCRB issues monthly, biannual, and special statistical and qualitative reports analyzing trends and recurring issues arising from the many thousands of civilian complaints it receives each year.
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