Police Department Discipline

When the Civilian Complaint Review Board determines that an officer committed misconduct, it forwards the case to the police department. The police commissioner retains sole discretion over how much punishment to issue in connection with a case, and even whether to issue discipline at all.

In 2012, the department disciplined 71% of all officers referred by the CCRB, which was ten points lower than its highest ever disciplinary action rate of 81% in 2011 and seven points lower than the 2010 level of 78%. The discipline level was significantly higher than in the period from 2007 to 2009, when the rates of disciplinary action were 58%, 56%, and 62%, respectively. In absolute numbers, disciplinary actions increased from 153 in 2008 to 229 in 2012, the highest number during the five-year period.