Police Accountability – Citizens Union

Citizens Union Responds to ProPublica and The New York Times Report Outlining a Misuse of Disciplinary Rules by NYPD Leadership

June 28, 2024 - Citizens Union has released the following statement from Executive Director Betsy Gotbaum in response to the ProPublica and The New York Times joint report on NYPD disciplinary practices

Testimony before the 2024 Charter Revision Commission – Public Safety Hearing

June 20, 2024 - Citizens Union has been studying police accountability and performance in New York City for more than a decade, and many of our recommendations have been implemented. We believe the best way to ensure the safe and democratic application of policing is to strengthen and streamline systems of oversight and accountability, both within the NYPD and among the independent entities that monitor police misconduct. Public safety is dependent on New Yorkers having faith in law enforcement.

Citizens Union, Other Good Government Groups Call on City Council to Reject Budget Cuts to New York City Oversight Agencies in the Mayor’s FY24 Executive Budget

May 24, 2023 - Citizens Union, along with Common Cause, League of Women Voters of the City of New York, NYPIRG, and Reinvent Albany, sent a letter to Council Speaker Adams and several committee chairs expressing concerns over Mayor Eric Adams' proposed significant budgetary reductions to key oversight agencies

Citizens Union, Other Good Government Groups Call on City Council to Protect Funding for Oversight Agencies

March 29, 2023 - Citizens Union and other groups sent a letter to Council Speaker Adams and several committee chairs expressing concerns over the preliminary budget proposed by Mayor Eric Adams for Fiscal Year 2024, which includes significant budgetary reductions to key oversight agencies of New York City government. The groups believe that reducing agencies' resources and personnel will severely hinder their ability to ensure accountability, ethics, and good governance across the municipal workforce, and prevent waste and corruption.

Memo in Support of Intro. 0938-2023, Giving CCRB Access to NYPD body-worn camera footage

March 27, 2023 – Citizens Union supports this bill because it would reduce the limitations investigative agencies face in accessing police officers’ body-worn camera footage through codifying the timing, type, and uses of such access. By providing prompt and full access to body-worn camera footage, Intro. 0938-2023 would ensure the CCRB arrives at a clear and fair interpretation of events in a timely manner and prevent the Police Department from unjustifiably denying access to effective investigative resources.

CU Testimony – 2023 budget oversight hearing – City Council Public Safety Committee

March 20, 2023 - Testimony before the City Council Committee on Public Safety for the FY2024 Preliminary Budget Oversight Hearing – CCRB budget

Memo in support of S8428/A9050, a bill clarifying the intent of the 50-a repeal, April 2022

April 13, 2022 - Group Memorandum in Support of S8428/A9050, an act to amend the public officers law, in relation to the disclosure of law enforcement officer's disciplinary records.

Citizens Union Issues Report Outlining Public Safety and Policing Recommendations for New Mayoral Administration

New York, N.Y. (December 23, 2021)— Citizens Union, New York’s preeminent good government group, today released Public Safety and Policing in New York City: Recommendations to the New Mayor, a report outlining recommendations for the incoming Mayoral administration designed to promote public safety and make the NYPD more accountable and responsive. The report builds on Citizens Union’s comprehensive Agenda for Police Reform to make the NYPD more transparent and accountable, which the group released in March. You can read that report here.

Memo in support in of Intros. 2440-2021 (CCRB powers) and 2297-2021 (NYPD officer qualifications)

November 22, 2021 - CU Memorandum of support for to bills before the City Council, Int. 2440-2021 (Adams), authorizing the Civilian Complaint Review Board to initiate complaints, and Int. 2297-2021 (Moya), in relation to qualification for service with the Police Department

Citizens Union Issues Report Outlining Agenda for Police Reform

March 23, 2021 - Citizens Union, New York’s preeminent good government group, today issued a report outlining a comprehensive agenda for reform to make the New York City Police Department more transparent and accountable

Citizens Union Celebrates Passing of Ranked Choice Voting and Reforms to the Civilian Complaint Review Board

November 5, 2019 - Citizens Union is pleased that New York City voters have embraced reforms to make our city elections more democratic, and increase oversight of the police department.

Citizens Union Announces Positions On Ballot Proposals For 2019 General Election

October 7, 2019 - Good Government Group Supports Ranked Choice Voting, Increasing Oversight of NYPD, Modifications to the City Budget, and Changes to Land Use Review; Opposes Proposed Changes to Ethics Rule.

Memo of Support for A2513/S3695, an act to repeal section 50-a of the civil rights law, relating to personnel records of police officers, firefighters and correction officers

March 25, 2019 Summary: A.2513 (O’Donnell)/S.3695 (Bailey) would repeal Section 50-a of the Civil Rights Law. Click here for the…

2019 CRC Testimony – Police Accountability

March 7, 2019 - Good evening Chair Benjamin and distinguished members of the New York City Charter Revision Commission. My name is Rachel Bloom and I am the Director of Public Policy and Programs at Citizens Union. We thank you for holding this meeting on police accountability, and for giving Citizens Union the opportunity to publicly share our recommendations with you.

City & State Elected Officials, Civil Rights, Good Government & Community Groups, & New Yorkers Impacted by Police Brutality Call for Repeal of State Police Secrecy Law That is One of Worst in Nation

June 8, 2018 - Group condemns NYPD’s misuse of state law 50-a with frequently changing and new interpretations, urge Mayor de Blasio to support concrete policy reform that repeals state law.

Citizens Union Issues Brief and Policy Position Statement on Police Accountability

August 2016 - Citizens Union (CU) urges the enactment of laws and adoption of new rules and regulations that will strengthen the accountability of the New York Police Department to the public and consequently improve the relationship between the New York Police Department (NYPD) and the public.

Citizens Union Welcomes Proposals by Governor Cuomo

January 21, 2015 - Supports legislative and executive pay commission and urges deliberative review of police accountability reforms.

Citizens Union Expresses Dismay Over Eric Garner Case Calls For Widespread Reform

December 10, 2014 - Changes needed to public oversight of police misconduct and criminal justice system.

Stop And Frisks Need To Be Used Less Frequently And More Judiciously

August 26, 2013 - Urges mayoral candidates to make clear what specific policies would be put in place to ensure stop and frisk practice complies with judge’s ruling and federal monitor.

Citizens Union Commends City Agreement Allowing Civilian Police Complaints To Be Prosecuted Independently

March 28, 2012 - Large number of CCRB substantiated cases in which recommended penalties are downgraded. Agreement will bring greater independence and transparency to the handling of police misconduct.

Citizens Union Pleased Over Announcement that CCRB Will Have Power to Prosecute Some Cases of Police Misconduct

February 19, 2010 - Move is heralded, but more independence and permanence are needed. Clear definition of work’s Scope and proper funding of CCRB are key to initiative’s success.

Garodnick, de Blasio and Citizens Union Call for Greater Civilian Handling of Police Misconduct Cases

July 29, 2009 - New Council Bill Would Improve Independence and Public Confidence in Civilian Complaint Oversight System.

Citizens Union Proposes Reforms to Strengthen Public Oversight of Police Misconduct

April 15, 2008 - Supports CCRB assumption of prosecutorial role, expanded range of penalties, and establishing CCPC's enhanced role and permanence among eleven recommendations. Good Government Group believes reforms will increase accountability, transparency and strengthen public confidence in system of police discipline.

Public Oversight of Police Misconduct

Citizens Union in 2008 comprehensively reviewed New York City's policies and procedures governing the handling of alleged police misconduct and…