Review Board’s Discipline Recommendations Rejected Half the Time

by BoroPark24

More than half the disciplinary recommendations sent to Commissioner Keechant Sewell were rejected last year, according to the figures reported on Thursday by the Civilian Complaint Review Board, an independent civilian panel that examines misconduct.

According to a NY Times report on the issue, Commissioner Keechant Sewell closed more than 400 of the 754 cases seen by the panel since she took office in December 2021.

The complaints involved 330 officers and included allegations of excessive force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, and offensive language.

Any New York resident can file a complaint with the Civilian Complaint Review Board. If the board members believe a complaint has merit, they have the authority to begin an investigation,  conduct interviews and collect evidence, and then decide whether to recommend discipline.

The final decision on whether to impose discipline, though, is up to the commissioner.