NEW YORK, N.Y. – Comptroller John C. Liu stated the following in response to questions about today’s news reports on NYPD’s English-only policy:

“The NYPD should encourage – not penalize – multilingual capabilities among our Finest.  Indeed the public would be better served with more police officers skilled in languages in addition to English.  At the very least, officers should not be punished for speaking other languages when it does not interfere with their official duties or the chain of command.

“With the reputation of being the international capital of the world comes a responsibility on city government to ensure equal access to basic human services for all residents. New York City should not discriminate, neither by intent nor by effect, against New Yorkers based on language ability.  English-only policies limit the full capacity of New York City’s most vital agencies – including the NYPD – that provide critical services 24/7 and upon which New Yorkers rely for on-demand and equal access.”

John Liu was the primary sponsor of the Equal Access to Human Services Act (Local Law 73) of 2003, which mandated on-demand language services in City agencies that provide health and human services. Originally known as Intro. No. 38, it was then-Councilmember Liu’s very first bill he introduced as a legislator. It is an example of modern-day civil rights legislation and language access laws that open up municipal government to be more responsive without discriminating based on language ability, and serves as a model to localities across the country. Press Release.