NEW CASSEL, N.Y. - A New York law that keeps details of internal police investigations and disciplinary actions sealed is being criticized, especially for its role in a fatal domestic-abuse case involving police inaction on Long Island.

The law, known as "50-a" - in effect since the 1970s - is designed to protect the privacy of police officers and prevent bad marks on their personnel files from being used against them in court. Its critics say the way the law is applied by Long Island police keeps the public from knowing how the police are policing themselves.

Joe Lo Piccolo, president of the Nassau County Criminal Courts Bar Association, explains.

"It prevents the public from knowing what went wrong, and then learning whether the police have done anything to correct."

"50-a" is under scrutiny as a result of a fatal domestic-abuse case in New Cassel, Long Island, in 2009. A 700-page report of police inaction in the case of murder victim Jo'Anna Bird remains sealed to the public and press because of a gag order in the settlement of a lawsuit brought by the victim's family.

Bob Freeman, executive director of the New York State Committee on Open Government, acts as an ombudsman on issues of transparency. As a government employee, his job performance records can't be hidden - and he dislikes the fact that "50-a" can seal those of others.

"It serves as a shield regarding public employees who have the most power over our lives. Those public employees are the least accountable as a consequence of Section 50-a."

Lawyers trying to probe police malfeasance are further hampered by "50-a," Lo Piccolo says, because it makes the very existence of investigatory and disciplinary files difficult to determine.

"The problem is, an attorney can ask to unseal these files, but we have to know these files exist in order to do that."

Freeman believes Long Island police could release the reports with identifying information redacted. He rejects the law's original rationale of protecting officers in court.

"We've all seen enough TV shows to have heard objections any number of times when irrelevant material is sought to be introduced. The judge has control over the courtroom. My belief is that the basis for this legislation is simply misplaced."

The law has been expanded to cover firefighters and jail guards. Critics of "50-a" say the job performance of sanitation workers, clerks, teachers, and even judges is a matter of public record - and that police officers' conduct should be, as well.

The text of "50-a" is online at supnik.com/ny51.htm.


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Some federal incentives to bring internet access to Indian Country neglected to require tribal participation, according to a new report.

The Federal Communications Commission's 2020 Rural Digital Opportunity Fund awarded more than $9 billion to cable and satellite operators, phone companies and others to deploy broadband in areas lacking it. The report from the Institute for Local Self Reliance showed the program included no requirement for tribal consent or engagement before companies placed bids.

Jessica Auer, tribal broadband policy analyst at the Institute for Local Self Reliance and the report's author, said it left some tribes, especially those with their own broadband projects, in what she called a "bureaucratic boondoggle," leading to "tension and confusion."

"They're required to spend resources and staff time trying to contest these awards, confronted by outside providers who feel that they have a mandate and a right to build on sovereign tribal lands," Auer explained.

Auer argued not including tribal nations at the table is, in many cases, considered a violation of tribal sovereignty. According to a 2022 study, households in tribal areas are about 24% less likely to have access to broadband internet than others.

In some cases, tribes are able to build the projects themselves. The Rosebud Sioux Tribe was awarded a $40-million grant to connect more than 1,500 tribal households with fiber internet access and an LTE wireless network.

Auer noted it is preferable to a company building infrastructure in unfamiliar terrain, which can be detrimental.

"I just can't think that it necessarily makes them the most long-term effective and sustainable answer, when they have so little knowledge and familiarity with local realities," Auer added.


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Iowa has enlisted the help of businesses across the state to take on human trafficking.

Tomorrow marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, and the state is calling on residents and employees alike to be aware of the signs that someone could be a victim.

The widepread use of social media has made it harder to corral sex traffickers in recent years.

Secretary of State Paul Pate launched the Iowa Business Against Trafficking Initiative in 2022, to ask 300,000 employees of 800 Iowa businesses to be the eyes and ears if they sense a person is being trafficked.

"Well, we're not asking anyone to be a hero here," said Pate. "What we're asking them to be is good neighbors. It's like a neighborhood watch program. You watch for suspicious or unusual behavior, activities that are going on, and let law enforcement know - because they can't be everywhere all the time."

Pate has enlisted the help of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security this year - which has started an initiative to remind people that if they suspect they spot human trafficking, they should say something to local authorities.

Tom Ruck is the senior engagement manager for the Department of Homeland Security's Blue Campaign against human trafficking, and has been in Iowa to boost Pate's efforts at confronting it.

He said it's important not to try to physically step in and rescue a person who appears to be a trafficking victim, even if that's the natural inclination of someone who wants to help.

"But we could put you at harm for doing something," said Ruck. "The trafficker may try to hurt you - and definitely the person being trafficked could be put in harm's way, down the road. So we say, 'Call your local authorities.'"

He added that traffickers often prey on young people who report feeling isolated, depressed, or estranged from their parents - and the criminals work those angles to make contact with prospective victims.




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A new survey shows there's been an increase in the number of police officers on the streets since the COVID-19 exodus, but some Americans are still behaving badly when they think no one's looking.

A survey by the Police Executive Research Forum shows more sworn officers were hired in 2023 than any of the previous four years, and fewer officers overall resigned or retired.

Lance LoRusso, founder of the Blue Line Lawyer Institute, said bad behavior is still evident in communities where not enough officers were available to patrol parks or other public spaces.

"There is a segment of the population that if they don't believe there's consequences for their actions, they will not act in a lawful manner," LoRusso asserted. "They don't, because there's nobody making sure that they're taking care of their obligations and they're treating each other in a civil manner."

More than 200 law enforcement agencies responded to the survey. It showed that while small and medium departments had more sworn officers than they did in January 2020, large departments are still more than 5% below earlier staffing levels.

In March, New Mexico's Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department announced a crackdown on drivers traveling at excessive speeds, which LoRusso said became a problem during the pandemic coast to coast and has not subsided in some areas. He says citizens should not hesitate to report such incidents.

"People racing cars is dangerous. It's completely anti-social, unlawful, dangerous behavior that shows a complete disrespect for the other people in your community. And yet, it's tolerated," he said.

Car break-ins also increased during the pandemic, which LoRusso said might feel like an isolated incident, but is usually indicative of a larger problem.