Troy Police Department Records

Following the repeal of New York Civil Rights Law Section 50-a — which kept the disciplinary records of police officers hidden from the public — vast amounts of police records and data became publicly available. As a part of our statewide campaign to hold police departments accountable, we’ve filed numerous Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests with police departments across the state. We seek and analyze public records so we can shine a light on what types of misconduct complaints are being filed, against whom, and what police departments do when those complaints are substantiated. This helps us get a sense of the nature and scale of misconduct and what happens to officers who abuse New Yorkers.

Unfortunately, despite the repeal of 50-a, many police departments continue to drag their feet and refuse to turn over all of the information New Yorkers have a right to see.

The Troy Police Department turned over 249 documents pertaining to disciplinary actions, officer use of force, civilian complaints, investigative reports, and officer policies and procedures.

Lack of Department Diversity

The department records reveal significant racial disparities within the Troy Police Department. 92% of its 131 members are white, while the City of Troy is only 62% white. Additionally, nearly 90% of the department’s members are male.

The lack of diversity is even more pronounced at the highest ranks: all three chief-level positions and all eight captain-level positions are held by white males. Of the 26 sergeant-level positions, 23 are held by white males, with only one Black male, one Hispanic male, and one white female among them.

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Our Lawsuit

The NYCLU submitted a FOIL request to the police department on September 15, 2020, seeking records including misconduct allegations, use of force, and civilian complaints.

For nearly four years, the NYCLU pushed Troy to produce responsive documents. Following our successful lawsuit, the Troy Police Department ultimately produced a total of 249 records and provided certification that it had provided a complete and correct response to the NYCLU’s FOIL request.

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