Cuomo Meets With Police Union Leaders

Amid the hullaballoo of emotional protests, turned backs, and a work slowdown, Gov. Cuomo met with police union leaders Tuesday to discuss possible legislations.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (R) leaves the wake of New York Police Department officer Wenjian Liu at Aievoli Funeral Home in New York on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015. Black law enforcement organizations in New York criticize Cuomo for not discussing legislative proposals with them. AP Photo/John Minchillo

NEW YORK—Amid the hullaballoo of emotional protests, turned backs, and a work slowdown, Gov. Cuomo met with police union leaders Tuesday to discuss possible legislations. But black law enforcement organizations have not been invited to any talks.

“The majority of police unions are led by whites, and they rarely consult black police officers,” said Noel Leader, a retired NYPD sergeant and co-founder of an advocacy group called 100 Blacks in Law Enforcement Who Care.

Representatives of black law enforcement officers said it is problematic because they feel there is a fundamental issue of race not only within NYPD, but within the police unions.

In total, more than 1,300 black and Latino officers in the union have filed discrimination lawsuits against the NYPD, according to Leader. The police unions have not backed such lawsuits.

The majority of police unions are led by whites.

— Noel Leader, retired NYPD sergeant