Gov. Cuomo on Thursday questioned why NYPD brass suddenly changed their interpretation of state law and ended the release of officers’ disciplinary records.
Cuomo stopped just short to demanding that 1 Police Plaza reverse course, but said it’s best to “err on the side of disclosure.”
“I understand there are two sides. I tend to always err on the side of disclosure and transparency,” Cuomo told reporters in Lower Manhattan, where he signed a bill reinstating some disability benefits for firefighters.
“I don’t think this is a state law issue. The police department for many years have released the records. They have now decided to not release the records because of the state law. So I believe it’s a question for New York City first as to what they want to do and then we can discuss the state law. The law hasn’t changed.”
Cuomo said the system seemed to work well before the NYPD changed its view of state law covering personnel records.
“For many many years the NYPD disclosed the information. The NYPD now looks at the law and makes a different interpretation,” he said.
“The first question is look at the law and their interpretation of the law.”
Meanwhile, Eric Garner’s daughter — who wants the disciplinary record of the cop involved in her father’s chokehold death released — also laid into de Blasio, tweeting that he was “covering up this modern day lynching” and crudely adding, “Just because you love Black p—y don’t mean you love black lives.”