NYPD Unions Ask to Intervene in Stop-and-Frisk Suit

Worry that city will drop appeals under new mayor

Police unions have asked a federal appeals court to let them continue stop-and-frisk litigation if New York City drops the case now that Bill de Blasio has been elected mayor.

The unions representing more than 29,000 of the NYPD's 35,000 members filed papers Thursday with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The unions want to continue challenges to two court rulings that found officers sometimes violated the Constitution when carrying out the stop-and-frisk policy.

"What we want to do is to make sure that the reforms that were recommended by the last court do not go into place," PBA president Patrick Lynch said. "This court appeal must go forward. We want to make sure the police officers' opinions are heard in the court."