New York Law Hides Police Misconduct

The uniquely restrictive New York State law that is used to conceal the disciplinary histories of police officers -- even some who have committed crimes -- reared its head again last week in misconduct proceedings against the officer who brutalized the retired tennis player James Blake during a mistaken arrest in Manhattan last month.

The public has the right to be kept informed of police misconduct cases, especially at a time of heightened concern over police brutality. But when the city's Civilian Complaint Review Board substantiated excessive force charges against James Frascatore, the officer who attacked Mr. Blake, it was allowed to release its findings to Mr. Blake's lawyer but was barred from making them available to the public. Had Mr. Blake's attorney not released the information, the public would still be in the dark.

The state law on officers' histories is the only one of its kind in the nation. It was enacted in 1976 to prevent criminal defense lawyers from using freedom-of-information laws to gain access to personnel records for information to use against officers in trials.

The law says an officer's personnel record cannot be publicly released or cited in court without a judge's approval. But municipalities and courts have since broadened the definition of "personnel record" to shield almost any information.