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Community calls on lawmakers to repeal 50-A law on officers' disciplinary records

Families who have lost loved ones in encounters with police are calling on state legislators to repeal 50-A, a state law keeping police officers’ disciplinary records private.

News 12 Staff

Jun 5, 2020, 7:37 PM

Updated 1,643 days ago

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Families who have lost loved ones in encounters with police are calling on state legislators to repeal 50-A, a state law keeping police officers’ disciplinary records private. 
Two mothers whose sons were killed by NYPD officers sent a letter to state leaders. 
Sean Bell, 23, was shot and killed by police in 2006 while unarmed after 50 shots were fired his way. Ramarley Graham, 18, also unarmed, was shot by police in his own home in 2012. 
After seeing the video of George Floyd and others, the mothers of these two men tell News 12 that they're tired of seeing history repeat itself. 
They've joined about 20 other family members whose loved ones were killed by police officers in sending a letter to the Senate majority leader and Assembly speaker calling for the repeal of 50-A. 
The law keeps police officers' disciplinary records private. 
In a statement, the lawmakers say, "Members have bills on many topics related to these issues and we will be developing a legislative package based on the ideas put forward. We intend to act on them next week." 
The governor also weighed in on the transparency of police officers' disciplinary records. 
"If they're being charged and investigated for abuse, their prior disciplinary record is relevant,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "We have a tremendous opportunity to pass the repeal of the 50-A law in Albany, but we must add a new law that protects the identities and the personal information of police officers in a way that might endanger them."