Amid the national outcry over the death of George Floyd, New York state lawmakers approved Tuesday to repeal a law that keeps police disciplinary records secret.
The measure to make public records and misconduct complaints against officers is among several police-related accountability initiatives reviewed by the state legislature. Other approved proposals provide for all state patrollers to wear body cameras and ensure that officers provide medical and mental health care to detainees.
Many of those bills were proposed years ago, but gained new momentum after huge protests nationwide to condemn police brutality.
The repeal of the law was approved the same day that criminal charges were filed against a New York City Police Department agent who rudely treated a protester during the protests sparked by Floyd’s death.
The cancellation of the law, known as Section 50-a, will make complaints against officers, as well as transcripts and final determinations of disciplinary proceedings, public for the first time in decades.
Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has spoken out in favor of a law reform, has said he will enact the repeal. Only Delaware has a similar law.
The push to end the confidentiality law peaked in recent days as mass street protests in Brooklyn, Manhattan and elsewhere against police abuse, amplifying the demands of those demanding years of reform after the Media killings by police, such as Eric Garner’s in 2015.
“These are not times of rejoicing,” said Democratic State Senator Kevin Parker, who represents parts of Brooklyn. “This initiative has been in existence for more than 10 years … and the only reason we are presenting it to the plenary now is because the nation is on fire.”
On Monday, the legislature approved other measures to hold police officers accountable, such as prohibiting them from applying stranglehold keys, guaranteeing the right to record police action, and facilitating the filing of lawsuits against people making racist complaints to the 911 emergency number.
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