FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Attorney Eric Sanders demands transparency and accountability from the NYPD, Mayor’s Office, and NYC Council to uncover systemic failures in budget oversight, misconduct investigations, and workplace protections
New York, NY – December 26, 2024 – Civil rights attorney Eric Sanders of The Sanders Firm, P.C., has issued a series of sweeping Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests to the New York City Police Department (NYPD), the Office of Mayor Eric L. Adams, and the New York City Council. These demands aim to uncover a broad range of records related to NYPD payroll, overtime management, budget allocations, sexual harassment investigations, and workplace retaliation from fiscal years 2019 to the present.
The move comes amidst growing public scrutiny of systemic abuses of power, allegations of misconduct, and questionable financial practices within the NYPD, compounded by recent high-profile cases of sexual harassment and retaliatory actions against department employees.
FOIL Requests: Key Areas of Focus
Sanders’ FOIL requests are centered on obtaining records critical to assessing how NYPD leadership has managed public funds, addressed misconduct complaints, and implemented safeguards against abuse. The key areas of focus include:
1. Payroll Data and Overtime Allocation
- Detailed Payroll Records: Sanders has requested comprehensive payroll data, including overtime payments, for all uniformed and civilian members of the NYPD. This includes the Top 400 overtime earners for fiscal years 2019 to the present in a searchable database format (e.g., Microsoft Excel).
- Overtime Distribution Policies: The request seeks all written policies, procedures, and guidelines governing the allocation of overtime, as well as audit controls designed to prevent misuse.
- Budget Allocations and Adjustments: The FOIL requests demand records of all quarterly budget adjustments related to overtime funding, including the names of individuals who authorized these changes.
2. Funding Sources and Oversight
- Federal, State, and Local Funding: Sanders is demanding records detailing any grants or funding awarded to the NYPD for overtime costs, along with the terms and conditions of such funding. This includes documentation of compliance with federal and state regulations.
- Testimony and Justifications: The FOIL requests call for all prepared testimony, presentations, and supporting documents submitted by the NYPD to the Mayor’s Office and New York City Council during budget hearings from 2019 to the present.
3. Misconduct Investigations
- Sexual Harassment Complaints: Sanders is seeking records of all sexual harassment complaints filed by NYPD employees—uniformed and civilian—segmented by rank and division. This includes logs of complaints, investigations, and case summaries.
- Overtime Abuse Complaints: The request also covers records of investigations into overtime abuse, including logs and case summaries of inquiries initiated and resolved.
4. Retaliatory Conduct
The FOIL requests highlight concerns about retaliatory actions against employees who report misconduct. Sanders has asked for internal communications, logs, case files related to retaliation claims, and any policies meant to safeguard whistleblowers.
Broadening the Scope of Accountability
In addition to addressing financial transparency, Sanders’ FOIL requests extend to uncovering potential failures in leadership and accountability within the NYPD and New York City government. Specifically:
- Mayor’s Office Accountability: The request to Mayor Eric L. Adams demands all correspondence and oversight records related to the NYPD’s budget and overtime policies, focusing on how leadership ensured compliance with financial and ethical standards.
- City Council Oversight: Sanders is seeking access to hearing transcripts, video recordings, and related documents submitted by the NYPD to the New York City Council. These materials are critical for evaluating how budgetary decisions have been presented and justified to policymakers.
A Troubling Culture of Misconduct and Retaliation
Attorney Sanders expressed deep concerns about the systemic issues these FOIL requests aim to uncover, particularly the NYPD’s handling of sexual harassment and retaliatory conduct. Recent allegations of quid pro quo harassment and overtime manipulation have cast a spotlight on the department’s culture and raised serious questions about its commitment to protecting employees from abuse.
“Lieutenant Quathisha Epps’s case has brought to light the devastating impact of unchecked abuses of power within the NYPD,” Sanders said. “Our FOIL requests are designed to expose not only the financial and administrative mismanagement but also the systemic failures that have allowed misconduct to persist for decades.”
The Public’s Right to Know
Sanders emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability in restoring public trust in the NYPD and City government. “These records are not just about uncovering the truth—they are about ensuring that public institutions operate with integrity and that those in positions of power are held accountable for their actions,” Sanders stated.
The attorney called on the NYPD, the Mayor’s Office, and the City Council to comply with the FOIL requests promptly and without obstruction. “The people of New York City have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent and whether their leaders are living up to the standards of justice and fairness they claim to uphold.”
Demands for Immediate Action
Sanders’ requests go beyond seeking answers—they demand immediate reforms and accountability from NYPD leadership. He called on Police Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch to implement stronger policies to address workplace misconduct, improve financial oversight, and ensure that complaints are handled with transparency and fairness.
“These FOIL requests are just the beginning,” Sanders warned. “If the records reveal systemic failures, we will pursue every legal avenue to ensure that justice is served—for victims of harassment, for NYPD employees who have been silenced, and for the taxpayers who deserve accountability.”
About The Sanders Firm, P.C.
The Sanders Firm, P.C., is a New York-based law firm specializing in civil rights and employment law. Led by Eric Sanders, Esq., the firm is committed to holding institutions accountable and advocating for individuals whose rights have been violated. The firm has a long history of exposing systemic failures and seeking justice for victims of workplace misconduct.
For more information on this case and its developments, visit The Sanders Firm, P.C., or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.
The Sanders Firm, P.C.
30 Wall Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Phone: 212-652-2782
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