The Albany Common Council is calling for policing reforms in the wake of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and subsequent protests in the city, state and country at large.

Council President Corey Ellis and other members made the announcement Thursday afternoon in front of city hall.

What You Need To Know


  • City lawmakers say they’re working to give subpoena powers to the Albany Community Police Review Board, and pushing for the repeal of 50-a

  • This announcement comes after several protests, and the arrest of a couple in the South End that Mayor Kathy Sheehan has called "troubling"

  • A group called for the officers to be held accountable during Thursday’s press conference, before marching peacefully around the Empire State Plaza

“These things that we’re going to be working on, we’re going to work on it together as a council,” Ellis said.

City lawmakers say they’re working to give subpoena powers to the Albany Community Police Review Board, and pushing for the repeal of 50-a, the provision that shields police disciplinary records from public view.

“This antiquated law has, for far too long, shielded the personal records of police officers in our communities,” said council member Sonia Frederick.

“What we need is for good ones to step up and check on the bad ones when they’re acting up,” said council member Kelly Kimbrough, who’s also a former police officer.

The Common Council says it wants to see formal direct communications between the community, police chief, and mayor as well. In addition, members are calling for all police personnel to wear body cameras, and for the creation of a scholarship to help underserved students become police officers.

“If you say you’re about fairness, if you say you’re about justice, we ask you to put your money where your mouth is,” said council member Jahmel Robinson.

This announcement comes after several protests, and the arrest of a couple in the South End that Mayor Kathy Sheehan has called "troubling." Albany Police Chief Eric Hawkins says he cannot yet say if excessive force was used until the internal review takes place.

Charges were later dropped, and a group called for the officers to be held accountable during Thursday’s press conference.

“We must charge these people with the crimes that they’ve committed, in order to get the people’s trust back,” said Lukee Forbes, an Albany resident who was helping lead the rally.

After expressing frustrations with city lawmakers, the group marched up Washington Avenue and then around the Empire State Plaza. Forbes says the march is a way for people to get their voices out there to those not listening.

“It’s really important right now, because we must shut down racism, we must shut down miseducation, we must shut down white supremacy, and we must shut down police for brutality,” Forbes said.

The group also made a stop at the Governor’s mansion, before praying at the intersection of Eagle and State streets, and ending the march back at city hall.