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AGENCY TESTIMONY
NYPD disciplinary process reforms and CCRB case handling
0:15:29
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3 min
Commissioner Tisch outlines recent reforms to the NYPD's disciplinary process and changes in handling Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) cases.
- Emphasizes the importance of public trust and ethical leadership in the NYPD
- Describes changes in executive leadership and policy amendments
- Discusses improvements in the internal affairs bureau and department advocate's office
- Explains changes in handling CCRB cases, including reduced use of paragraph 2 authority and elimination of the short SOL rule
- Calls for the CCRB to review its own procedures to process cases more expeditiously
- Stresses the importance of improving practices to reduce the need for discipline
Jessica Tisch
0:15:29
That trust is built by unimpeachable integrity and it is maintained by strong ethical leadership.
0:15:34
Over the past five months we have reshaped our executive leadership, amended our vehicle pursuit policy, reduced waste and redundancy in our vehicle fleet, and returned more than a thousand cops from administrative roles back to patrol.
0:15:48
We continue to enhance efficiency, improve policy and reinforce accountability.
0:15:54
When I was last here I said that we were focused on our disciplinary process and ensuring that it is fair and effective.
0:16:01
That means having an internal affairs bureau that identifies and roots out cases of misconduct And having a department advocate's office that prosecutes those cases rigorously.
0:16:12
It also means that we must have a thorough and consistent process when the CCRB substantiates allegations of misconduct.
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Misconduct.
0:16:20
When I started in this position I became concerned that some of our procedures for CCRB cases had come unmoored from the principles that guide our disciplinary system.
0:16:31
We needed to make changes and we did.
0:16:33
For example paragraph two of our twenty twelve MOU with the CCRB states that when the CCRB is seeking charges and specifications against an officer there are certain circumstances in which the police commissioner can retain the case rather than it being prosecuted by the CCRB.
0:16:51
In particular, I can take this step when there are ongoing parallel or related criminal investigations or in the interests of justice when an officer has no disciplinary history or prior substantiated CCRB complaints.
0:17:06
But just because I can do something does not always mean that I should.
0:17:10
I am committed to being thoughtful about when I exercise this authority and I have been.
0:17:15
Last year the department took 93 cases away from the CCRB pursuant to this provision two authority.
0:17:21
In the first four months of this year that number is 13.
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And until a few months ago we were imposing a short SOL rule that administratively closed hundreds of CCRB cases that came to us shortly before the statute of limitations expired.
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I ordered the department advocate's office to reverse that policy decision and eliminate that rule.
0:17:42
My directive is clear.
0:17:44
Cases should not be closed on technicalities and we must make substantial efforts to review every case brought to us by the CCRB.
0:17:52
In 2024, '8 '40 '8 CCRB cases were closed because of short SOL.
0:17:57
Since we made this change on March 1 there have only been three.
0:18:02
Going forward that number can be zero and it should be.
0:18:06
But I want to be clear.
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The CCRB needs to do its part here.
0:18:10
Our department advocates office is making herculean efforts to process cases quickly.
0:18:16
In some instances we only have days.
0:18:19
And this is not fair to the officers or to the complainants.
0:18:23
We urge the CCRB to review its own procedures and to take steps to process cases expeditiously.
0:18:30
Discipline is important.