Communities United for Police Reform Statement on Right to Know Act

“There is no deal on the Right to Know Act without non-emergency investigatory policing encounters being covered, including when police are doing investigatory questioning at Level 1 encounters. If a police officer can ask you for identification in non-emergency situations, there is no reason New Yorkers should be left without the identity of the officer and the reason for the encounter in such situations. Any purported bill that seeks to provide such a gaping loophole has no agreement from advocates and communities.

“We are deeply disappointed by the fact that Council Members Reynoso and Torres did not take action today on the Right to Know Act.  Our communities and all New Yorkers impacted by abusive policing during interactions with NYPD officers have been let down. The lead sponsors are allowing their leverage and ability to pass strong bills by the end of the session diminish, by missing the deadline of today's Stated Meeting – the last one in which the bills could be passed while guaranteeing preservation of the Council's ability to override a veto by the mayor, if necessary, in the current session. 

“Just like the Community Safety Act, these bills came from our communities - they were developed by our communities based on the experiences of people who have been subjected to the abuses these bills would address.  Not moving these bills to vote is allowing New Yorkers to continue facing policing abuses that can be stemmed. New Yorkers need Council Members Reynoso and Torres to push through the political obstruction, including the dishonest, fearmongering campaign by the PBA that is attempting to intimidate and block these bills, to pass a strong, coalition-supported Right to Know Act. The PBA's antics are just more of the same status-quo political theatrics attempting to impede progress, just as they tried on stop-and-frisk.”
 

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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 policing practices based on cooperation and respect– not discriminatory targeting and harassment.

CPR brings 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 unfairly targeted the most by the NYPD. CPR is fighting for reforms that will promote community safety while ensuring that the NYPD protects and serves all New Yorkers.

Learn more: http://changethenypd.org/
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