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TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gia Lowe on the need for CCRB final authority
3:32:34
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142 sec
Gia Lowe, a community advocate from the Bronx, testifies on the need to give the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) final disciplinary authority over police officers.
She expresses her shock at learning that the police commissioner can overrule the CCRB's findings, calling it a "fundamental flaw" in the system.
She argues that this loophole means misconduct goes unpunished, fracturing the trust between the NYPD and the communities it serves, and asks the commission to put a reform measure on the ballot.
- Lowe was shocked to learn the CCRB does not have final authority to discipline officers.
- She believes this flaw allows police misconduct to go unpunished and erodes community trust.
- She argues this is not a theoretical issue but a deeply personal one for Black and brown New Yorkers.
- She urges the commission to adopt a ballot measure giving the CCRB final disciplinary authority and direct access to the NYPD's misconduct database.
Gia Lowe
3:32:34
Good evening.
3:32:36
My name is Gia Lowe.
3:32:37
I'm a proud Bronx native, an entrepreneur, a community advocate, and a New Yorker who believes in the power of justice, transparency, and accountability, especially when it comes to public safety.
3:32:50
When I first learned that the civilian complaint review board does not have final authority to discipline officers, I was honestly shocked.
3:32:59
Like so many New Yorkers, I assume that if an independent body investigates police misconduct and substantiates a claim, that would lead to real enforceable consequences.
3:33:10
But instead, the police commissioner can overrule those findings, silencing the very accountability our communities demand and deserve.
3:33:19
Let's be clear.
3:33:20
This is not a minor loophole.
3:33:23
It's a fundamental flaw.
3:33:25
It means that even in cases of excessive force, abuse, or racial bias, the system can protect officers over the people.
3:33:36
And as we all know, it's black and brown New Yorkers like my neighbors, your neighbors, my family, and my community who bear the brunt of that broken system.
3:33:46
This isn't theoretical.
3:33:48
It's deeply personal.
3:33:51
When misconduct goes unpunished, it sends a painful message that our voices don't count, that our trauma is negotiable, and that trust between the NYPD and our communities will remain fractured.
3:34:06
But it doesn't have to stay that way.
3:34:08
The Charter Revision Commission now has the opportunity to put real reform in the hands of the people.
3:34:15
By adopting a ballot measure that gives the CCRB final disciplinary authority and direct access to the NYPD's misconduct database, you'll be giving New Yorkers the chance to vote for a system that is truly fair, independent, and accountable.
3:34:33
This is how we close the gap between harm and justice.
3:34:37
This is how we restore trust and improve public safety, not just in theory, but in practice.
3:34:45
You've been placed here in this position for such a time as this.
3:34:50
So I ask you, what legacy will you leave, and what side of impact will you choose to be on?
3:34:56
Thank you.