New York Civil Liberties Union sues Ramapo cops for detention data

The New York Civil Liberties Union has asked a state court to force the Ramapo Police Department to release unredacted reports involving the use of force, car stops, detentions, discipline of officers and other issues.

The group's request for the information stems from a federal civil rights lawsuit filed by four state parole officers claiming Ramapo police officers violated their civil rights during a car stop in 2014.

The NYCLU argues in its article 78 complaint that the law gives the public the right to review reports and information on routine police work.

While the parole officers' lawsuit continues, a federal judge ruled in February that the Ramapo police legally stopped a car with four black parole officers in 2014 and dismissed most of the plaintiffs' civil rights claims against the department.

DOCUMENT: MEMORANDUM OF LAW 

DOCUMENT: ARTICLE 78 COMPLAINT

NYCLU officials said they made the request for information 11 months ago as part of the agency's "Police Report Card Project" aimed at measuring and increasing the transparency and accountability of departments statewide. In March, the NYCLU sued the Buffalo Police Department for failing to provide similar information for the project.

The original FOIL request of June 2, 2015, sought 39 categories of records, including those documenting the use of force, stops and temporary detentions, enforcement of three non-criminal offenses, complaints regarding alleged misconduct, various surveillance technologies, bias-based policing and racial profiling.

More than 10 departments across New York and numerous departments around the country, including Los Angeles, Seattle and Washington D.C., have released unredacted records on these same policies, the NYCLU said.

EARLIER COVERAGE: Federal judge slashes parole officers claims

EARLIER COVERAGE: Dashcam video of Ramapo police stopping car with parole officers

EARLIER COVERAGE: Parole officers claim rights denied in car stop

The group's 13-page legal memorandum, filed Wednesday with the state Supreme Court, says the Ramapo department redacted significant portions of the policies on possessing weapons, discharging firearms, using force, disciplining officers and vehicle stops by officers. The department provided an incomplete response on Aug. 2, 2015, and didn't provide the agency with direction on how to appeal, the NYCLU said.

The police provided no explanations for the redactions, the group added.

NYCLU Lower Hudson Valley Chapter Director Shannon Wong said the legal action is about seeking transparency from the police. She said the civil liberties group wants to get a sense of how the department operates, and being candid would improve relations with the public.

"The Ramapo Police Department is keeping the public in the dark by not providing basic information about how officers do their jobs," Wong said. "The department continues to face serious questions about racial profiling and how it conducts traffic stops and it can help quell those concerns by being transparent."

Ramapo Town Attorney Michael Klein said the town had turned over hundreds of pages of documents to the NYCLU but had withheld information it believed would jeopardize the safety of its officers, including such details as what kinds of ammunition and weapons they carry. He said the town planned to defend its position in court.

Twitter: @lohudlegal