NYCLU v. Albany Police Department (Seeking access to public records on Department’s use of Tasers)

This lawsuit challenges the Albany Police Department’s refusal to fully disclose public records about its use of Tasers. Prompted by numerous reports of Taser misuse by police officers in the state and throughout the country, the NYCLU initiated a statewide study of New York law enforcement agencies’ use of the weapons. Through the state Freedom of Information Law, it asked 10 police departments across the state to provide use-of-force policies regarding their use of Tasers. Eight of the agencies either produced their policies in full or reported that no such policies exist. Only the Albany Police Department and Saratoga Springs Police Department produced policies with redactions

. The NYCLU sued the City of Saratoga Springs seeking full disclosure of the Taser policy, and a judge ruled in May 2010 that the city’s redactions had “no basis.” Despite this ruling, the Albany Police Department continued to assert a right to substantially redact its Taser policy. The Article 78 petition was withdrawn in October 2010 after the Police Department disclosed the requested records. 

State Supreme Court, Albany County, Index No. 5971-10 (direct)