Albany Police Department

Based on information we’ve gathered, we have found that the Albany Police Department:

• Generally was responsive to our public information requests, providing most of the requested documents and policies – or at least acknowledgments of the absence of such documents – after we filed an initial appeal.
• Notably appeared to lack any policies governing how officers should conduct stops.
• Could not find any policies on interacting with people with limited English proficiency and was unable to provide us with any training materials for any of the categories requested, including on stops and use of force.

The Albany Police Department needs to provide its officers and the public with policies that ensure stops are being conducted lawfully and should publicly report on data to back that up.

Documents received by December 2016

Department Diversity

As of July 2015, the Albany Police Department had 327 sworn personnel, equivalent to one for every 300 residents of Albany. Of the 305 department personnel for whom gender was reported, 92% were men and 8% were women. Gender was not reported for any ranks above sergeant.

While the city of Albany is 50% white, its police department was 87% white. The remaining personnel was 11% black (35 people), 1% Hispanic (4 people), 1% Asian (3 people), and 1% other (2 people). The underrepresentation of women and people of color was constant across ranks.