Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit

On July 8, 2015, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order No. 147, which appointed the New York State Attorney General as special prosecutor in incidents where a law enforcement officer causes the death of an unarmed civilian, or where there is a significant question as to whether the civilian was armed and dangerous. The following day, the office announced the creation of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit (SIPU), to investigate and, if warranted, prosecute all cases that fall within the scope of Executive Order 147.

SIPU is staffed with experienced prosecutors, investigators, and a community liaison. While SIPU’s principal objective is to investigate the incidents covered by EO 147 without fear or favor in order to determine whether a prosecution is warranted, SIPU also seeks to enhance transparency and strengthen public trust in the criminal justice system in these sensitive incidents.

To date, SIPU has launched investigations of 33 incidents across New York State, as well as one investigation of a District Attorney. Of these investigations, SIPU has charged one police officer, charged one DA, is investigating 10 incidents, and has closed 21 incidents.

SIPU’s reports also typically include policy recommendations aimed at improving law enforcement practices. To date, these reports have made a number of important recommendations, including expanding police officer body camera programs and expanding the implementation of off-hour video arraignments. A bill permitting courts to open off-hours arraignments passed the New York legislature in 2016.

The leadership of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit includes Chief Deputy Attorney General for Criminal Justice Jose Maldonado, Chief of the Special Investigations and Prosecutions Unit Wanda Perez-Maldonado, Chief Investigator Oliver Pu-Folkes, First Deputy Chief Investigator John Reidy, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Kim Ramos, Special Advisor to the OAG Tai Johnson, Crime Victims Assistance Coordinator Priscilla Taveras, Deputy Chief Paul A. Clyne, Deputy Chief Joshua Gradinger, Deputy Chief Diane M. LaVallee, Deputy Chief Michael Smith, Deputy Chief Jennifer Sommers, Deputy Chief Nicholas Viorst, Deputy Chief Herman Wun, Counsel Gail Heatherly, Investigator Ronald Enfield, Investigator Bryan Mason, and Legal Support Analyst Madeleine Ballard.

Details and recommendations relating to each case are available in the reports linked below.

Biennial Reports

Executive Order No. 147 requires SIPU to issue a biennial report regarding cases over which it has jurisdiction. The reports summarize open and closed cases investigated by SIPU, provides new data, and recaps major policy recommendations made over the course of the two-year period.

Biennial Report of the Office of the Attorney General's Special Investigations & Prosecutions Unit – 2019

Biennial Report of the Office of the Attorney General's Special Investigations & Prosecutions Unit – 2017