by Tim Lynch
Newsday recently ran a terrific article about a secrecy law in New York that has the effect of keeping police misconduct from public view. By way of background, Nassau County just settled a lawsuit that had been filed against the police department. To assess the wisdom of paying out $7.7 million in this matter, people wanted to know what happened, but the report has been “sealed” under a NY secrecy law.
Excerpt:
Excerpt:
The report is about the case that cost Nassau County $7.7 million, because its police officers, by not properly enforcing a restraining order against Leonardo Valdez-Cruz, failed to protect his ex-girlfriend, Jo’Anna Bird. Valdez-Cruz, who was a police informant, is now serving life in prison for torturing and killing the mother of two. Schmitt discussed the report with News 12 Long Island, which, like Newsday, is owned by Cablevision. Nassau County Attorney John Ciampoli demanded the report be sealed at the behest of the Police Benevolent Association on the eve of a news conference by Bird’s lawyer to discuss it contents. As a result many questions are unanswered. How many officers were involved? What exactly did they do, wrong and right? Have they been disciplined, and if so, how? What processes have been changed in the department to prevent this from happening again?Read the whole thing.