New oversight committee would restore faith in NYPD, AG says

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Attorney General Letitia James proposed sweeping changes Wednesday to boost oversight of the New York City Police Department, including forming an independent commission that would approve the department's budget and have the final say on officer discipline.

“The police should not police themselves — period," James, a Democrat, told reporters. “It's really important that we think of major reforms and not tinkering around the edges.”

Gov. Andrew Cuomo asked James to investigate whether NYPD officers used excessive force to quell unrest and enforce a citywide curfew in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. Floyd's death led to weeks of demonstrations in the city that became violent at times and prompted widespread allegations of police misconduct.

James did not rule out criminal charges as her investigation continues. In the meantime, she outlined several reforms intended to restore New Yorkers’ faith in law enforcement.

She made clear that none of her recommendations are binding upon city leaders but portrayed her report as a blueprint for transforming accountability in the nation's largest police department.

In addition to a new oversight committee, James called for decriminalizing “quality of life” offenses like jaywalking and a statewide certification process that would prevent “bad officers from simply being passed from one agency to another.”

“Everything should be on the table,” the attorney general said. “The ultimate goal must be democratizing policing to create trust and systems worthy of that trust.”

Messages were sent to the NYPD and its largest police union seeking comment.

James' report followed harrowing testimony about New York City police officers slamming peaceful protesters to the...