Demands for more transparency in the department's disciplinary proceedings picked up steam in 2016, when the NYPD said it would no longer publicly disclose verdicts and punishments — reversing a four-decade practice overnight. At the time, the NYPD said it had unwittingly been violating Section 50-a of the state's civil rights code, which bars the release of an officer's disciplinary record. Critics contend the NYPD is interpreting the law too broadly, and have sued to have disciplinary records disclosed.