Police Oversight Role to Expand

New York City wants to allow the same civilian agency that investigates police misconduct to take its cases to court to make the complaint process more efficient.

Currently, the Civilian Complaint Review Board investigates claims of abuse filed by the public, then sends cases with evidence of misconduct to Police Department lawyers who decide whether the cases can be prosecuted.

Under the change, expected to be completed within 90 days, the board would prosecute cases instead of forwarding them. However, it still would have to forward recommendations for disciplinary action to the police commissioner.