Communities United for Police Reform Celebrates Denial Of Police Union’s Request for Injunction & Attempt to Rollback 50-a Repeal

New York, NY -- Today, U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Polk Failla denied police unions’ request for a preliminary injunction to block the City of New York from publishing officer misconduct databases, with limited exceptions.

“We’re glad that U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Polk Failla definitively rejected the police unions’ baseless arguments and largely denied their request for a preliminary injunction blocking NYC from publishing officer misconduct databases” said Manny Vaz, spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR). “Following this ruling, the City of New York should immediately publish a full NYPD misconduct database without major categories of misconduct and discipline hidden. The police unions were trying to use the courts and their outsized financial resources  to subvert democratic processes and the state legislature’s repeal of 50-a — New York’s notorious police secrecy law—but today’s ruling largely upheld the will of the people.  While we disagree with the court’s limited injunction on certain categories of information, the court’s decision is an important step in our ongoing fight to put in place a system where mayors and police departments will no longer be allowed to hide routine police violence and systemic lack of discipline for officers. CPR led the historic campaign to #Repeal50a, and we will continue to fight against any attempts to tear down this important victory for all New Yorkers.” 

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In June, the New York State legislature passed - and Governor Cuomo signed - the historic repeal of 50-a, the infamous police secrecy law that was used by police departments to hide police misconduct and discipline from the public. Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) led the statewide coalition and campaign that won #Repeal50a.

In July, CPR, represented by the Center for Constitutional Rights and the law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit brought by five New York City police unions, as well as corrections and firefighter unions, earlier in the month. The police unions seek to block New York City (NYC) from publishing databases of officer misconduct and discipline information and to roll back the repeal of Civil Rights Law 50-a. On July 22, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order, temporarily blocking the release of the databases.

On Tuesday, August 18, the federal court held a hearing on the police unions’ request for a preliminary injunction to prevent the City of New York from publishing officer misconduct databases, following the repeal of New York’s police secrecy law, “50-a,”.  CPR’s papers opposing the police unions’ preliminary injunction request can be viewed here. 

Today, U.S. District Court Judge Katherine Polk Failla announced her decision to deny the preliminary injunction request, with limited exceptions.

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About Communities United for Police Reform

Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) is an unprecedented campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York, and to build a lasting movement that promotes public safety and reduces reliance on policing. CPR runs coalitions of over 200 local, statewide and national organizations, bringing together a movement of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for change. The partners in this campaign come from all 5 boroughs, from all walks of life and represent many of those most unfairly targeted by the NYPD.