In a landmark decision, the New York Court of Appeals has ruled that unsubstantiated complaints against law enforcement officers are subject to public disclosure. The court determined that such records must be accessible unless they infringe upon an officer’s privacy, in which case redactions can be applied. This ruling upholds a prior appellate court decision and aligns with the 2020 repeal of Section 50-a of the state Civil Rights Law, which previously shielded police misconduct records from public view.
Judge Anthony Cannataro, authoring the court’s opinion, emphasized that there is no blanket privacy exemption for these records. The decision mandates that records predating the repeal of Section 50-a also be disclosed, reflecting the legislature’s intent to promote transparency within law enforcement agencies. Advocates, including the New York Civil Liberties Union, have lauded the ruling as a significant victory for accountability and public trust.
