The NYPD disciplinary trial of Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo concerning his actions in the confrontation with Eric Garner

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The NYPD disciplinary trial of Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo concerning his actions in the confrontation with Eric Garner that turned fatal nearly five years ago is expected to conclude shortly. The department claims that under a section of the state Civil Rights Law, it is prohibited from disclosing the outcome of the case and what disciplinary action, if any, will be taken. Considering the high degree of public interest in the case, is this the right way to proceed?

• May 21, 2019 Updated 55 min ago
 
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Yes. Under a 2016 interpretation of the law, city officials determined that the NYPD had been improperly disclosing disciplinary details for the preceding 40 years. Unless a court ruling goes against the city, it has no choice but to uphold the law unless and until it is amended in Albany.

No. Leaving the public in the dark would be a public-relations disaster for a department whose Commissioner, James P. O'Neill, has acknowledged the need to improve trust of the police in the minority community. If he means it, the NYPD can't afford to keep the case's disposition secret.