Statement: Advocates Push To Uphold CCRB Rules To Investigate Sexual Misconduct And Lies By The NYPD, Following PBA’s Attempts To Obstruct

The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) met yesterday to publicly discuss the proposed rule changes on sexual misconduct investigations and investigations into officers who provide false statements. Below is Communities United for Police Reform’s statement in response to yesterday’s meeting:

“We only have to look as far back as Tuesday, when the NYPD’s top so-called anti-discrimination official quietly retired after being suspended for posting racist, misogynistic and homophobic remarks, to know that the NYPD cannot hold itself accountable,” said Quadira Coles, spokesperson for Communities United for Police Reform (CPR). “The CCRB exists to be an independent investigator of misconduct and abuse from the members of the NYPD. We know officers and NYPD leadership often cover up the extent of their harm, like false statements and engaging in sexual and gender-based harassment and violence. While expanding CCRB jurisdiction alone won't solve issues of police violence, it will provide a more transparent mechanism for New Yorkers to come forward and expose wrongdoing. The CCRB began to investigate police sexual misconduct in 2018, and despite the expansion of the CCRB’s police oversight in the New York City’s Charter as voted for by New Yorkers, the NYPD’s union, the Police Benevolent Association, holding outsized power and influence, sued in an attempt to delay and deny justice for survivors. Their political and legal maneuvering ends now. Survivors of gender-based violence must have access to a place to report police sexual misconduct to someone other than the NYPD itself, who have been known to lie and cover-up police violence.”