Thread by @TroyDSA

🚨🚨THREAD🚨🚨
TROY, NY - This afternoon, the Troy DSA #DefundTroyPD working group submitted multiple Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) requests with the city of Troy for the disciplinary records of multiple police officers considered to be infamously brutal by community members.

The requests come after a sustained outcry from Troy residents calling on the Troy City Council and @MayorMadden to release the personnel files of Troy Police officers following the repeal of section 50-a of the New York State Civil Rights Law, which they refused to do.

In total, Troy DSA submitted 24 FOIL requests with the city of Troy for the following items:

✴ The individual disciplinary records of Chief Brian Owens, Deputy Chief Daniel DeWolf; Asst Chief Chris Kehn; Captains Jude Baker, Thomas Bevevino, Adam Mason, Matthew Montanino, Raymond White; Sergeant Sam Carello; Officers Justin Ashe, Jarrod Iler, Kyle Jones, Nick Laviano.

These above requests were made after collaborating with community groups and members to identify specific Troy police officers to be considered particularly brutal and acting with impunity on their beat;

✴ The disciplinary records of former Officer Dominick Comitale and Sergeant Randall French;
✴ The disciplinary records of all currently employed Troy Police officers;
✴ The demographic breakdown of police arrests from 2010 to 2019;

✴ Use of force data from 2010-2019, TPD’s use of force policy, & all “use of force” incident reports since July 2019;
✴ Overtime & compensatory time expenses for 2010-2019;
✴ The amount spent on legal settlements w victims of police brutality & excessive force from 2010-2019;

AND
✴ A copy of the memo by Michael D. Ranalli, frm Glenville police chief and law enforcement consultant who, at the TPD’s recommendation, was hired to review the investigation into the murder of #EdsonThevenin.

An initial internal affairs report contradicted Sergeant Randall French’s rendition of that evening in April 2016. Since then, the city has consistently refused to release the memo, citing section 50-a as prohibiting its release.

These FOIL requests are just our first step in our campaign to reform and ultimately defund the TPD. Troy DSA intends to release the city’s responses to these information requests in full to the general public.

For too long, the Troy Police Department has essentially let individuals like PBA President Nick Laviano guide departmental policy and, as a consequence, let brutal individuals like Kyle Jones and Jarrod Iler continue to serve on the force.

The city, through its own obstinance and nonfeasance, is forcing residents and community members to navigate through red tape to secure the release of this information. It is proof positive that @MayorMadden and the entire City Council are not serious about police reform.

One of the officers who disciplinary records Troy DSA demands the city release is Officer Jarrod Iler, an officer whose brutal behavior is discussed as an open secret. On August 15, 2017, Jarrod Iler shot #DahmeekMcDonald, hitting him in the forearm and grazing his temple.

McDonald fortunately survived but the incident led to the formation of #JusticeforDahmeek, a community group now known as #Troy4BlackLives , when it became clear the city would not take action against Iler for excessive force.

Various other lawsuits against the city claiming the Troy Police Department used excessive force have been filed since 2010, naming Captain Matthew Montanino, Officers Justin Ashe and Kyle Jones, and Sergeant Sam Carello.

In the case of Officer Jones, the city of Troy settled one such lawsuit with Troy resident Brian Houle, agreeing to pay Houle $60k. In January 2014, then-Sergeant Matthew Montanino gave one person a black eye during a brutal police assault at Kokopelli’s bar (now-closed).

In early June, #Troy4BlackLives , #AllOfUs , & other community orgs rallied in Troy 11,000 people stong. Other cities, like Hudson, NYC, Kingston, Utica, and Rochester, moved to immediately release disciplinary records, freeze further hiring of police officers, & trim budgets.

Troy, instead, chose to sew alarm and fear and Troy police officers are reported to have encouraged downtown business owners to board up their windows out of fear of potential violence.

Since June, aside from finally appointing members to the long dormant and ultimately powerless Police Objective Review Board (PORB), the city of Troy has done nothing to reform or reign in its police department.

In the coming weeks and months, Troy DSA will continue to roll out its #DefundTroyPD campaign in the city and Rensselaer County.

We will not accept cosmetic changes to the Troy PD. We will continue to work with other community organizations to do what our city’s leaders have failed to do for years - hold the Troy PD accountable while keeping in mind the desires of the residents of Troy.