Federal Appeals court allows PBA to intervene in protest lawsuits

A federal appellate court today granted the NYC PBA’s motion to intervene in five consolidated lawsuits concerning the NYPD’s response to the Summer 2020 protests, including the lawsuit filed last year by New York Attorney General Letitia James. The ruling overturns a lower court’s decision denying the motion.

Read the ruling here.

PBA President Patrick J. Lynch said:

“We are grateful that the court will consider a critical perspective in these cases: that of the police officers on the street, especially the hundreds who were attacked and injured by violent criminals using the protests as cover. Up to this point, there was no one involved in the cases who would speak up for police officers or defend their interests. It was the de Blasio administration and past NYPD leadership who sent cops out with mixed messages and no support. Then, they tried to blame us for their failures. By joining this suit, the PBA will make sure that our members’ voices are heard, and their rights protected.”

The NYC PBA previously submitted extensive written testimony to the Attorney General regarding police officers’ experience during the protests, including testimonials from injured police officers and input from disorder control expert and former NYPD Chief of Department Louis Anemone. Read the PBA’s full testimony here.