Federal Judge Criticizes NYPD For “Widespread Falsification” of Arrest Reports

One of the most famous federal judges in the country lashed out at the New York Police Department this week, accusing the department of a proven record of “widespread falsification by arresting officers.” The criticism came with Judge Jack Weinstein’s decision not to throw out a lawsuit by two men busted on false narcotics charges, Maximo Colon and his brother Jose Colon. We previously discussed this arrest.

Weinstein noted that “[i]nformal inquiry by [myself] and among the judges of this court, as well as knowledge of cases in other federal and state courts … has revealed anecdotal evidence of repeated, widespread falsification by arresting officers of the New York City Police Department.” He went on to say that “there is some evidence of an attitude among officers that is sufficiently widespread to constitute a custom or policy by the city approving illegal conduct.”

The brothers were arrested last year on false charges of selling cocaine in order to meet arrest quotas. A video shows that they were framed by the officers.

They are suing for $10 million for false arrest.

We have been following this and other cases of alleged false statements by arresting officers, here.

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