Press Releases

For immediate release: April 13, 2021

New York City Police Unions Give Up on Failed Attempts to Roll Back #Repeal50a and Block Release of Misconduct and Discipline Records

Win for Communities United for Police Reform: Litigation will be dismissed and prior temporary injunction to be lifted

New York, NY - Today, the New York City police, corrections, and fire unions finally threw in the towel on a lawsuit to block the release of officer misconduct and disciplinary records following the repeal of 50-a—they have agreed to dismiss the action in its entirety and with prejudice. Earlier this year, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals denied the New York City police unions’ attempt to block public release of the majority of officer misconduct and discipline records and recognized that Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) could challenge the district court’s remaining limited injunction over certain records. Now, with the police unions’ case expected to be officially dismissed by Judge Failla, all injunctive relief will be dissolved and the NYPD and City can no longer point to this litigation as an excuse to hide police misconduct records.
For immediate release: April 9, 2021

Family of Antonio Williams & Organizers Respond to Bronx DA’s Refusal to Indict NYPD Officers Responsible for 2019 Killing

Today, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark’s office informed the family of Antonio Williams that NYPD officers responsible for killing Antonio in 2019 will not be prosecuted. During the virtual meeting with the Bronx DA’s office, the family, the Justice Committee, Communities United for Police Reform and the family’s lawyers were informed about the status of the investigation and that officers who killed Antonio Williams, including NYPD Sgt. Jason Valentino, Det.

For immediate release: April 1, 2021

Families of New Yorkers Killed by Police, Community Organizations, Mark the First Day Special Prosecutor Law Takes Effect

Today marks the enactment of the hard-fought law to codify and strengthen the special prosecutor’s office in New York State that investigates all killings by police and deaths in police custody.

For immediate release: March 30, 2021

CPR Celebrates Long-Fought Victory to Legalize Marijuana and Secure Restitution for Communities Hardest Hit by Marijuana Enforcement

Today, after years of organizing for the legalization of marijuana, New York State is poised to pass the Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA). Once it becomes law, the MRTA will be one of the most ambitious legalization programs in the country. It includes comprehensive racial justice-oriented restitution for the communities—largely Black, Latinx, and other communities of color—who have been historically harmed by marijuana policing and New York’s drug laws.

For immediate release: March 23, 2021

Gwen Carr & Racial Justice Organizers Call on Mayor de Blasio to Drop the Appeal and Fire Officers Involved in Eric Garner’s Killing After Appeals Court Denies City's Bid to Stay Judicial Inquiry

This morning, in a rare move, the New York State Appellate Division – First Department denied the de Blasio administration's request to stay a historic judicial inquiry into violations and neglect of duty by top NYPD and City officials—including Mayor de Blasio—related to the killing of Eric Garner. The court ruled that the inquiry may proceed.
For immediate release: March 21, 2021

Mayor de Blasio Continues to Hide Critical Information Related to Killing of Eric Garner 6.5+ Years Later

Last week, lawyers for Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner, and other petitioners, asked that the City of New York turn over documents and records as part of discovery in a 

For immediate release: March 19, 2021

Statement: Family and Activists Respond to NYPD Officers’ Baseless Legal Attempt to Block CCRB Prosecution in the Killing of Delrawn Small

Wayne Isaacs, the NYPD officer who killed Delrawn Small in 2016, is suing to prevent the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) from prosecuting his case. Isaacs filed an Article 78 petition, attempting to stop any further investigation into his misconduct related to the killing of Delrawn Small.

For immediate release: March 12, 2021

CPR Blasts Part 2 of Mayor de Blasio’s Illegitimate and Dangerous Police Reform Plan, Calling it the “Expand NYPD Funding & Power Plan”

Mayor de Blasio released the second part of his proposed police ‘reform and reinvention’ plan, in response to Governor Cuomo’s executive order 203 mandating municipalities to submit plans to New York State by April 1st. Just like the first part of the Mayor’s plan, part two proposes more cosmetic reforms that will do nothing to reduce police violence or increase safety.
For immediate release: March 8, 2021

CPR Slams Release of NYPD Database That Continues to Hide the Majority of Officer Misconduct and Discipline

Today, the NYPD released a dashboard that includes limited NYPD officer misconduct and discipline and continues to conceal critical information that can be made public under the repeal of 50-a. The database, the contents of which include only information about incidents where the NYPD commissioner has imposed a final guilty finding in administrative charges, does not include what is believed to be the vast majority of misconduct and discipline records, including for racial and other discriminatory profiling, most police sexual abuse and other misconduct by NYPD officers.

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