Dear COBA Members/Retirees;

We all know whats been going on around us recently regarding a rabid anti law enforcement sentiment. Honest protests have been subverted by criminals and anarchists who are targeting LEO's all around the country. During all this unrest, progressive leaders in Albany have been attempting to seize on this opportunity to push their anti law enforcement, pro criminal agenda once again, and they have gained steam.

For the bulk of these past weeks, COBA and our Downstate Correction Partners have been beating the drum to protect LEO's NYS Civil Rights Law 50a which protects our personnel information from becoming public without a Court Order.

Unfortunately, in Albany the sentiment to protect law enforcement does not exist anymore. The NYS Senate and Assembly have proposed a Bill this past week that will Repeal 50a potentially exposing to Inmate's Defense

Attorneys and the general public (under the FOIL law) our personnel information particularly as it pertains to ALL disciplinary records, including unfounded, unsubstantiated complaints.  

To be clear, the Bill as it stands now explicitly redacts any personal identifiers from being exposed, like our home addresses, SS #s, family information etc. But it leaves wide open all allegations, real or made up, and potentially includes medical information as it relates to discipline. That means "were you medically incapacitated when you allegedly did X to this inmate, or X when you were outside the job off duty", and they can demand your medical files as related. We believe this violates the American's With Disabilities Act and HIPAA but if enacted will force legal action against the State.    

We have worked very closely with the Downstate Correction Coalition that again includes Suffolk, Westchester, NYC and NYS Corrections. We also have a close relationship with the NYS Troopers and their Investigative Ranks who join us in this fight.

Please read the attached memo that we formulated in which, not only do we ask our members to get involved and complain to our local State Senators, but we also sent this memo to the entire State Legislature demanding that if they want to violate our Civil Rights in an effort to placate Inmates and their defense attorneys as well as the Legal Aid Society, then we want THEM held to that very same standard. If our personnel disciplinary information is now able to be provided through the FOIL law by repealing 50a then we want our State Legislature to be held to that same standard.

We collectively demand that every NYS Legislator apply this new standard to themselves including the release of all complaints made against them, both criminal and civil, as well as all of their "protected" Ethics Violation Hearings, including unfounded or unsubstantiated complaints.

Whats good for us as Public Servants, is good for them!

This Bill may be voted upon by the State Legislature early next week.

Cuomo has said if they deliver a Bill to him "reforming" 50a, he will sign it.

Enough is enough with the hypocrisy from Albany trampling all over law abiding citizens and those of us that work to protect them everyday in Law Enforcement. Enough with representing criminals instead of the good guys!!  

See the memo below that we prepared demanding action from both our Members and from the State Legislature. Our Members need to demand with us that 50a not be repealed, and demand that the State Legislature hold themselves to the same standard they want to create for us.

Forgive the light copy of this memo, it doesn't transfer well to this email server.

Click here to download a full statement from the Downstate Correction Coalition.

Membership Call to Action!!

Demand Accountability from State Leaders

Regarding Law Enforcement Officers

Civil Rights Law 50a.

NYS Senate Democrats Control both houses of Government in the State and the Governor's Office. There is no sense in contacting the Republican side as they have no power to stop this Bill. But feel free to complain to them also. We in the Unions are.  

Below are the contact numbers for Long Island's 6 Democratic Senators who will be voting on this Bill to Repeal 50a. COBA urges every single COBA Member and Retiree to reach out to these Senators and demand they

VOTE NO!! Then insist that they understand why any such Legislation going forward is completely hypocritical if it does not include them as State Legislators in the same law.

Make Your Voices Heard!!!

Be professional, be direct and please do not use profanity.

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Senate District 3: Senator Monica Martinez

District Office:

90-B West Main Street

Patchogue,  NY 11772

Phone: (631) 360-3356

Email: martinez@nysenate.gov

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Senate District 5: Senator James Gaughran

District Office:

485 Underhill BlvdSuite 102

Syosset,  NY 11791

Phone: (516) 922-1811

Email: gaughran@nysenate.gov

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Senate District 6: Senator Kevin Thomas

District Office:

990 Stewart Ave.,Suite LL45A

Garden City,  NY 11530

Phone: (516) 739-1700

Email: thomas@nysenate.gov

Senate District 7: Senator Anna Kaplan

District Office:

1 Old Country Rd.Suite 270

Carle Place,  NY 11514

Phone: (516) 746-5924

Email: kaplan@nysenate.gov

Senate District 8: Senator John Brooks

District Office:

5550 Merrick RoadSuite 205

Massapequa,  NY 11758

Phone: 516-882-0630

Email: brooks@nysenate.gov

Senate District 9: Senator Todd Kaminsky

District Office:

55 Front StreetRoom 1

Rockville Centre,  NY 11570-4040

Phone: 516-766-8383

Email: kaminsky@nysenate.gov‍

Always in Unity,

Brian Sullivan, COBA President

And Your Entire COBA Board of Governors

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