{"id":5033,"date":"2020-06-10T02:52:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-09T23:52:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/ny-lawmakers-pass-bill-that-releases-officer-disciplinary-records-through-foil\/"},"modified":"2020-06-10T02:52:00","modified_gmt":"2020-06-09T23:52:00","slug":"ny-lawmakers-pass-bill-that-releases-officer-disciplinary-records-through-foil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/ny-lawmakers-pass-bill-that-releases-officer-disciplinary-records-through-foil\/","title":{"rendered":"#NY lawmakers pass bill that releases officer disciplinary records through FOIL"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#NY lawmakers pass bill that releases officer disciplinary records through FOIL<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

\n ALBANY \u2014 State lawmakers spent Tuesday continuing to pass police reform bills \u2014 chief among them, the controversial 50-a repeal and replace bill requiring release of law enforcement disciplinary records subject to freedom of information laws.<\/p>\n

The bill first repeals a section of New York\u2019s civil rights law providing privacy protection for the disciplinary records and personal information of police officers, firefighters and corrections officers.<\/p>\n

It replaces it with a new layer, allowing members of the public and journalists to submit a Freedom of Information Law request for records and claims made against officers.<\/p>\n

Sensitive information \u2014 like addresses, phone numbers, email or health information \u2014 will still be kept under wraps, like other public employees.<\/p>\n

The bill \u2014 carried by Assemblyman Daniel O\u2019Donnell (D-Manhattan) and state Sen. Jamaal Bailey (D-The Bronx) \u2014 along with nine others, prompted state lawmakers to return to Albany via Zoom and in person to pass police reform bills in the wake of George Floyd\u2019s death at the hands of Minnesota cop Derek Chauvin.<\/p>\n

Originally passed in 1976 by the Legislature to shield law enforcement from retaliation when involved in criminal proceedings, court interpretation of the law has broadened which pro-repeal advocates argue has frustrated efforts to get at the records of bad cops and allows upward mobility in law enforcement offices.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a sense of frustration in me that many of us have, especially of those of us who are people of color, especially black people. George Floyd said he couldn\u2019t breathe, they didn\u2019t listen,\u201d Bailey argued during the bill debate, and also during Floyd\u2019s nationally televised funeral in Minnesota.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat knee on Mr. Floyds neck was a wakeup call for America. We need policing reform,\u201d a noticeably frustrated Bailey said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean we\u2019re anti-police \u2026 it just means that we had to change a few things \u2014 but people just weren\u2019t listening before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Republicans argued the legislation could expose officers to unfair, targeted attacks if \u201csubstantiated\u201d and \u201cunsubstantiated\u201d claims are released to the public.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe overwhelming amount of police officers and police agencies are honest, decent public servants who work hard each and every day to keep our communities safe,\u201d GOP Senator (R-Elma), a former state trooper and Erie County sheriff, argued.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe best police agencies, the best likelihood of success is no doubt where the police and community work together and trust each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Civilian Complaint Review Board \u2014 New York City\u2019s NYPD oversight body \u2014 fielded 5,236 complaints against officers in 2019, compared to 4,392 in 2018.<\/p>\n

Only 226 complaints against 326 police officers were sustained in 2018, but the 2019 figures have yet to be received.<\/p>\n

The board also received an uptick of misconduct complaints last week \u2014 532 total, an increase of 70 compared to April\u2019s numbers.<\/p>\n

\"New<\/img>
New York State Assemblywoman Diana C. Richardson (D-Brooklyn) speaks in favor of new legislation for police reform.<\/span>AP<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But other lawmakers, like state Sen. Jessica Ramos (D-Queens), argued minority communities are unfairly targeted. She admitted she\u2019s been stopped and frisked.<\/p>\n

State Sen. Luis Sepulveda (D-The Bronx) called internal disciplinary reviews by police groups \u2018a kangaroo court,\u2019 noting one of his first jobs out of law school was for a law enforcement union.<\/p>\n

The measure passed the state Senate along party lines around 2:30 P.M., with 40 \u2018yes\u2019 votes from Democrats and 22 \u2018no\u2019 votes from Republicans.<\/p>\n

The Assembly, however, continued to debate the measure well into the evening, following hours of back and forth, although it is expected to pass the chamber.<\/p>\n

City Police Benevolent Association president Patrick Lynch during a press conference on Randall\u2019s Island flanked by representatives from 20 law enforcement unions across the Empire State, suggested the bills were being passed in Albany without input from law enforcement.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy aren\u2019t you speaking to all the stakeholders? Why aren\u2019t you seeking our advice? Maybe because we\u2019d be reasonable,\u201d he fumed.<\/p>\n

\u201cDidn\u2019t they rush through bail reform? Didn\u2019t they have to admit they made a mistake.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one is reading the bills. They\u2019re following the crowd \u2026 they\u2019re all app<\/a>easing the criminals \u2026 appeasing the rioters \u2026. appeasing our critics.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also called the NYPD \u201cthe most restrained police department in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other measures that passed the Senate and are expected to clear the Assembly include:<\/p>\n