For decades, police agencies across New York State have relied upon Section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law to withhold from the public vital information concerning police misconduct. Time and time again, the police have cited this law in state courts to deny disclosure of pertinent information in cases where innocent people have died in the hands of police without any legal justification. The state’s highest court has consistently upheld a narrow interpretation of this law, and to this day, the families of those murdered by police do not know all of the facts concerning the deaths of their loved ones.
Today, I am proud to announce the passage of my bill repealing this unjust law. The essence of good government is transparency and accountability, and our nation is at a crossroads when it comes to police-community relations. This bill provides greatly increased transparency that has been long-desired by the public and affected families. However, it takes great lengths to also ensure that the personal information of members of law enforcement and their families will not be released. The repeal of section 50-a will help restore public trust in law enforcement by holding police officers accountable for their misconduct.
I would like to thank my colleagues for their resounding statements and voting on this bill unanimously. I would also like to thank our history making leader, Andrea Stewart Cousins, for her incredible leadership and advocacy. Today we make history in the ongoing struggle for government transparency and accountability, and I vow to continue the fight against police brutality and systematic racism.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
