Ballot Question #2: Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB)

Increasing the number of staff at the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) will increase the capacity of the CCRB's ability to process claims and hold individuals accountable.
The additional reporting may also lead to more accountability, however, this alone will not decrease police brutality and other systematic issues. Instead, including more funding for community organizations and programs rather than policing will relieve the need for a larger CCRB.

Citizens Union recommends a yes vote on question 2, which would increase oversight of the police department by strengthening the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). Multiple changes included in question 2 have been recommended by Citizens Union over the last few years. These include protecting the CCRB budget, requiring the police commissioner to explain deviations in discipline from that recommended after a department trial, and allowing the CCRB to investigate the truthfulness of statements made by a police officer who is the subject of a Board investigation.
Question 2 would also increase the size of the CCRB and allow them to delegate subpoena power to the executive director.

New York City has the largest civilian oversight system in the nation and Question 2 will increase its effectiveness and legitimacy. It enhances the accountability and transparency of the NYPD and aligns with principles of effective oversight including: independence; adequate jurisdictional authority; unfettered access to records; adequate funding & operational resources; public reporting & transparency; and procedural justice & legitimacy.
Pegging the CCRB personnel budget to the NYPD budget is vital for adequate staffing as police practices and equipment change – seen in the need to review thousands of hours of body-worn camera footage during CCRB investigations. Requiring the Police Commissioner to respond in writing when deviating from CCRB disciplinary recommendations promotes dialogue and allows the public to better understand disciplinary decisions. Allowing the Executive Director to exercise the Board’s subpoena power streamlines the investigation process, which is in the interest of complainants, police officers, and the public.
Question 2 will promote policing that is more accountable and transparent, and more responsive to the needs and expectations of the community.

The CCRB provides an important independent oversight role for police misconduct. However, more can be done to strengthen its ability to conduct investigations and ensure it has sufficient resources to conduct agency business. These changes are nominal, but serve to signal the city’s continued commitment to substantive accountability measures.

The Manhattan Libertarian Party supports this small change to increase police accountability. Although there is much more than can be done, we ask that you vote yes.

New York Immigration Coalition Position: Support
The Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) investigates accusations of misconduct against police officers and recommends disciplinary actions. These proposals improve police accountability and the independence of the CCRB by adding members who are not appointed by the Mayor; protecting CCRB’s budget from political interference; requiring the Police Commissioner to explain when CCRB disciplinary recommendations are not followed; giving CCRB subpoena power to require witnesses to give testimony; and giving CCRB the power to investigate potentially false official statements made by police officers.

As a civilian who was formerly assaulted by a police officer in the Bronx, I would like to see more independent and uninterrupted approach in CCRB investigating complaints. Many of us are still afraid of law enforcement not being accountable for actions resulting in injury or death of individuals. If no reform takes place in making investigations fair and uninterrupted, the fear will not go away. I would also suggest a process where complaints addressed by the CCRB get handled within a faster turnaround time, and where complaints can be made on a more user-friendlier channel.

We recommend a “yes” vote on this ballot item. We stand in favor of improving public transparency and accountability with respect to the New York Police Department. To achieve more equitable justice, the CCRB membership needs to be more representative, the budget must be adequate, and the Board’s powers need to be expanded.

Increasing to 15 members means increasing salaries for city workers--not acceptable to a tax-payer. When America becomes a socialist society, then add extra workers.

Ballot Question #2 would give CCRB sweeping new powers and drastically increase its budget. It should not be adopted. CCRB is a dysfunctional, ineffective agency, and increasing its authority would harm police officers and have serious ramifications for public safety. While CCRB substantiates as little as 2.1% of complaints it receives, each unsubstantiated complaint can derail an officer’s career, subjecting him or her to performance monitoring and hurting his or her chances of career advancement. An emboldened CCRB would exacerbate this situation, embolden anti-police extremists, and reduce the authority of the Police Commissioner. Such an environment will make it more difficult for officers to do their jobs, leading to a chilling effect on law enforcement that will make the city less safe. Granting CCRB a drastically increased budget that is guaranteed and tied to that of the NYPD is wasteful and irresponsible, as it will divert City resources and strip the City of the ability to adjust the budget in times of economic downturn. In sum, the changes posed by Ballot Question #2 are a threat to public safety and would result in a wasteful allocation of budget resources.