PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Ivey Dyson, Counsel at Brennan Center For Justice on NYPD Inspector General Oversight
1:48:04
ยท
3 min
Ivey Dyson from the Brennan Center For Justice testified in support of Intro 1020, which aims to address challenges faced by the NYPD Inspector General's office. She emphasized the importance of passing this legislation to ensure effective oversight of the NYPD and improve transparency.
- Dyson highlighted issues such as NYPD's obstruction of investigations and lack of consistent leadership in the IG's office.
- She explained how Intro 1020 would mandate reporting on NYPD interference, provide transparency on delayed investigations, and ensure prompt appointment of new IGs.
- The testimony stressed the need for City Council to pass Intro 1020 to strengthen the IG's role as a check on the NYPD.
Ivey Dyson
1:48:04
Good morning, chair Brewer and members of the committee on Oversight and Investigations.
1:48:08
My name's Ivy Dyson.
1:48:09
I'm counsel on the Liberty and National Security Program at the Brennan Center For Justice.
1:48:13
As part of our focus on government oversight and accountability, we advocated for the creation of an inspector general for the NYPD in 2014.
1:48:22
As you know, the inspector general's mandate is to provide a systematic review of NYPD policies and practices through thorough investigations and reporting.
1:48:30
And over the years, the office has undertaken groundbreaking investigations leading to real improvements at the police department.
1:48:37
But the office has faced significant challenges, such as NYPD's failure to provide information needed for investigations and a lack of consistent leadership.
1:48:46
These issues have contributed to variations in the number and quality of the office's investigative reports, its main oversight tool.
1:48:53
City council must pass intro 10/20 to address these problems.
1:48:58
The NYPD has, on several occasions, hindered the inspector general's work by withholding documents and blocking access to police department employees.
1:49:06
Intro 10/20 requires that the IG disclose any instances of obstruction or interference by the police.
1:49:12
The office has already provided such information in some of its reports, and the bill simply makes this reporting compulsory so that the city council and civil society groups have the insight necessary to raise concerns and to resolve any issues.
1:49:25
Intro 10/20 also provides transparency into the conduct of IG investigations that have suffered extraordinary delays by requiring the inspector general to publish summaries of investigations that have remained open for more than 3 years.
1:49:39
This provides a level of transparency already achieved by other inspectors general, both federal and local, while also giving the IG discretion as to the level of detail it discloses.
1:49:51
Intro 10 20 additionally requires that the office publish a number count of investigations closed without issuing a a report within the calendar year, which is another way of tracking its performance.
1:50:02
Sharing only the number shields the IG from public pressure to continue investigations that might not warrant a report, And neither provision adds significantly to the inspector general's existing reporting load.
1:50:14
And any added effort is outweighed by the need for city council and civil society to track the progress of the office's work and to ask questions about any delayed activity.
1:50:23
And finally, intro 10/20 ensures that the inspector general's office has a consistent leader.
1:50:29
The office has gone through periods of temporary oversight with no permanent inspector general at the helm.
1:50:34
And intro 10/20 mandates prompt replacement in the case of a vacancy to ensure that the office has leadership required to navigate relationships with the police and to provide the discretion necessary for more consistent reporting.
1:50:46
While we are pleased to see that the quality and consistency of the IG's reporting has improved over the recent years under current leadership, the underlying problems facing the office remain unaddressed through binding legislation.
1:50:57
City council must pass intro 10 20 so that the inspector general can continue to serve as a strong check on the NYPD.
1:51:04
Thank you for your attention.