skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, September 20, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Dozens of CA events this weekend honor Latino Conservation Week; Kamala Harris joins Oprah Winfrey in emotional campaign event; Report finds poor working conditions in Texas clean energy industry; AI puts on a lab coat, heads to technical schools.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Police Privacy – or Police Secrecy?

play audio
Play

Wednesday, May 30, 2012   

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.


get more stories like this via email

more stories
Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …


Social Issues

play sound

This Saturday marks the International Day of Peace and the advocacy group Nonviolent Peaceforce is kicking off a series of family-friendly events in M…

Environment

play sound

Latino Conservation Week is in full swing, with 330 events across the U.S. and 90 in California alone. The 11th annual event runs through Sunday…


Nebraska is one of 10 states to confirmed abortion-related constitutional amendment measures on the ballot in November. (Alcorn Imagery/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Some ballot initiatives this year have taken more than voter signatures to get onto the ballot in Nebraska. They've already withstood major court …

Environment

play sound

Maine officials are stepping up land conservation projects as climate change continues to alter the state's terrain. New funding from the Land for …

Social Issues

play sound

A new study showed as Texas has emerged as a national leader in wind turbine and solar energy installations, clean energy workers often face …

play sound

Students enrolled at Wisconsin's technical colleges this fall might take a course where artificial intelligence is the star of the classroom…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021