Q&A
New York City's payouts for claims against the NYPD
2:45:06
·
95 sec
Council Member Hudson questions Randy Mastro about the role of the Corporation Counsel in reducing the amount of taxpayer dollars spent on claims against the NYPD. Mastro outlines his plans to address this issue.
- Hudson cites that New York City paid out $266,700,000 in claims against the NYPD in fiscal year 2023
- Mastro proposes expanding the team and resources devoted to reviewing these cases
- He suggests a more proactive approach, focusing on addressing systemic causes rather than just risk management
Crystal Hudson
2:45:06
I think my colleagues and I have referenced the entirety of your 4 year career, not just 4 years to be fair.
2:45:13
In fiscal year 2023, New York City paid out $266,700,000 in claims against the NYPD, an increase of 12% over fiscal year 2022, according to the New York City Controller.
2:45:26
Do you believe that the corporation counsel or the city's law department, which settles these claims, has a role to play in attempting to reduce the amount of taxpayer dollars spent per annum on these types of cases?
Randy Mastro
2:45:38
Well, of course, I already alluded to this.
2:45:41
If I am fortunate enough to assume this position, I will expand the team and the resources devoted to reviewing these cases, not just from a risk management standpoint on dollars paid out, but to at inception review those those cases, those allegations, to try to get to the merits, try to get to the systemic causes, to prove to prevent those kinds of things from continuing to occur.
2:46:09
So I see court counsel playing a more proactive role in addressing police misconduct or police excessive force.
2:46:18
And, you know, dealing with the police department and the rest of the administration to address those matters, not just looking at it as defending the incoming and determining the risk management and settling the cases.
2:46:31
Trying to get to the root causes, get ahead of it.
2:46:33
So I actually intend to be a more proactive corp counsel in that regard than any corp counsel has ever been.
Crystal Hudson
2:46:40
Thank you.
Randy Mastro
2:46:40
Thank you.
Crystal Hudson
2:46:41
There were many instances of police brutality during the Giuliani administration exploration, but I wanna talk to you in detail about one particular incident under your watches that be made for operations.