The City has reiterated its stance that the Police Accountability Board (PAB) lacks the authority to publish internal investigative reports. According to the City, such publication violates local law, an automatic stay of a Fourth Department decision in the NYCLU matter, and the City’s Code of Ethics.
“The PAB’s charter clearly defines its ability to publish data on the receipt and disposition of complaints, and aggregated quarterly and annual reports setting forth that information. The information released on Sunday is neither of those things,” stated a City representative.
The City expressed concerns about the potential harm caused by releasing allegations of wrongdoing that may be inaccurate. “The public release of allegations of wrongdoing that may be or have already been determined to be inaccurate is dangerous. Any attributions of an employee’s name to a report – whether that attribution is correct or incorrect – can have lasting impacts on that employee’s personal and professional lives,” added the representative.
In response to this issue, the City provided its legal perspective in a detailed four-page letter sent to PAB staff and board members on Friday, September 20.
