End the CCRB holdups to ensure justice for accused NYC cops and their accusers

Despite the New York politicians’ strong statements about the importance of the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) in investigating allegations of police misconduct, the board’s effectiveness has been compromised due to five vacant commissioner positions out of the total 15.

This has resulted in significant delays in the board’s decision-making process, causing both accused police officers and legitimate complainants to be left in uncertainty as their cases remain unresolved.

While there has been skepticism regarding the necessity of the CCRB, given the NYPD’s oversight by an independent monitor and the City Council, as well as the various consent decrees regulating its practices, a non-functioning board is even more detrimental.

Out of the five vacant positions, two are the responsibility of the City Council, two belong to Mayor Eric Adams, and the chair position is a joint responsibility.

The current backlog in cases is a result of the reduced number of working teams due to the vacancies, with only three committees active instead of five, exacerbating the situation.

Following the resignation of the interim chair, Arva Rice, in July, there is a need for replacements to be vetted and appointed to fill the vacant positions.

The City Council’s Rules Committee is scheduled to evaluate one replacement, Dr. Mohammad Khalid from Staten Island, on October 9, with no information available about a candidate for the Bronx seat.

City Hall states that there is an ongoing effort to fill the vacancies and reappoint two members to prevent the situation from worsening further.

Given the neglect from both the City Council and the mayor in maintaining the CCRB’s functionality, it may be time to acknowledge that it has outlived its utility and consider amending the City Charter to abolish it.