Civil Section

The Civil Section, which comprises various units, serves as in-house counsel to the Department on all civil legal issues, including personnel, contracts, gifts, ethics, and conflict-of-interest matters. It also advises Department executives on contract issues and acts as liaison with the corporation counsel for approval of Department contracts.

The attorneys defend the Department in employment discrimination cases at federal, state, and city human rights commissions and defend the Department's decisions concerning candidates for the position of police officer at administrative appeals held before the New York City Civil Service Commission.

The Civil Section also defends the Department's interests in special proceedings in New York State Supreme Court wherein petitioners seek to compel the Department to disclose records exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). The Civil Section provides litigation assistance to the corporation counsel on significant cases, verifies pleadings and discovery responses, and assists when necessary in the production of documents and witnesses for trial.