Why Police Reform Advocates Say New York's Police Secrecy Law Is Part Of The Problem

Protesters are demanding an end to discriminatory policing and in New York, many say that means repealing the state's controversial police secrecy law. 

Section 50-A became law in the 1970s, in order to protect police from harassment by defense attorneys. But reporter Nick Pinto says the law has been expanded in the decades since, to shield information about allegations of police misconduct and any disciplinary actions taken against officers, from the public and the press. He says victims of alleged misconduct don't know officers' track record and watchdog groups can't hold departments like the NYPD accountable.  

Some state lawmakers have been demanding the repeal of 50-A for years, and their calls are gaining traction during protests over George Floyd's death. But police unions remain vehemently opposed, arguing that repealing the law would make their personal information public and put them in physical danger. 

Pinto says police accountability advocates have pointed out, that's simply not true. 

"The Freedom of Information Law explicitly already protects personal information of that kind," he said. "So the removal of 50-A would not open those sort of floodgates." 

Listen to Pinto's conversation with WNYC's Jami Floyd above.