Police Benevolent Association sues NYPD oversight agency for "false" and "baseless" online claims
The lawsuit alleges the CCRB’s online database, 50-a.org, unfairly harms officers by listing serious accusations including sexual misconduct, racial profiling and making false official statements even when those claims have not been substantiated.
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The NYC Police Benevolent Association filed a lawsuit against the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) for alleging inflammatory claims posted in an online database.
The lawsuit alleges the CCRB’s online database, 50-a.org, unfairly harms officers by listing serious accusations including sexual misconduct, racial profiling and making false official statements even when those claims have not been substantiated.
“We basically caught CCRB red-handed, conspiring with anti-police activists,” PBA President Patrick Hendry said.
The 53-page lawsuit alleges the CCRB’s public disclosures are “inflammatory, stigmatizing and damaging to the reputations, safety and employment prospects of police officers,” calling the practice unconstitutional.
The website allows users to search officers by precinct or unit and filter by categories such as “officers with most complaints.” Each profile includes detailed information about allegations, along with the age, gender and race of the complainant.
Critics of the lawsuit say limiting public access to misconduct records would weaken accountability for the nation’s largest police department. Hendry argues that the issue is not transparency but accuracy.
“It should go through the process,” he said. “Sometimes these cases take six months to a year to come out with the process. If it’s substantiated, sure, it comes out.”
A CCRB spokesperson defended the agency’s work, saying its investigations are “complete, thorough and impartial.” The spokesperson added that the board “continually reviews all applicable laws and regulations regarding the public release of its records, including disciplinary histories of members of service, to ensure it is fully compliant.”
The site does note whether allegations are unsubstantiated, exonerated, or unfounded. Hendry maintains that even listing dismissed complaints can unfairly damage an officer’s career.
A judge will be assigned to the case, and both sides are expected to present arguments in court.
