Police misconduct: What do your elected officials think?

Background:

Cuomo is the state's top elected official. He appoints the heads of the New York State Police and the Division of Criminal Justice Services, neither of which currently has the authority to investigate misconduct by local police officers. Cuomo can also lobby the State Legislature to pass new laws.

Cuomo was elected New York State's 56th governor in 2010. Previously, he served as the state attorney general. As New York's top prosecutor, he investigated the college loan industry, home mortgage scams, abuse of the state pension fund, Internet sex predators and government corruption. He is the son of Gov. Mario M. Cuomo and lives in Mt. Kisco.

Questions:

Police officers have remained on the job after shooting innocent people, falsifying police reports, lying under oath and committing other misconduct.

Is there a need for increased oversight of law enforcement?

No response

A New York law known as 50-a keeps investigations into police misconduct hidden from the public. In many states this is not the case.

Should 50-a be repealed?

No response

New York does not license police officers, and is one of only six states that does not have the power to end an officer’s career.

Should New York police officers be licensed by the state?

No response

Neither the state police nor the Department of Criminal Justice Services is allowed to investigate local police misconduct.

Should an executive branch agency be given the power to investigate local police?

No response

His comments:

Cuomo has not filled in the survey.