Regarding Daniel Connolly’s letter published March 18, 2019, entitled “To Say That Officers Are Not Disciplined Is False,” Mr. Connolly contends that “[f]or decades” the Corporation Counsel’s Office or Law Department for New York City makes an individualized decision in every case where a police officer is accused of misconduct whether to defend and indemnify the officer for compensatory and punitive damages.  He suggests that officers may be disciplined upon the recommendation of the Law Department.

However, I wonder whether Mr. Connolly can cite a single case where the city declined to defend and indemnify an officer accused of misconduct.  I wonder whether he can cite a single case where an officer was disciplined following the defense of a civil case by the Law Department.