New York Assembly Bill A01284

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/9/25
• Refer: 1/9/25
• Refer: 1/7/26

Caption

Enacts the "Wandering Officers Act" prohibiting provisional or permanent appointment of a person as a police officer if such person has previously been fired as a police officer from any jurisdiction within or without the state, if such person left a position as a police officer either while under an investigation or while being the subject of a disciplinary action which could result in termination from any jurisdiction within or without the state, or if such person resigned while criminal charges were pending stemming from actions committed while on duty as a police officer in any jurisdiction within or without the state.

Summary

A01284, titled the “Wandering Officers Act,” would direct the state Civil Service Council to adopt rules barring the provisional or permanent appointment of certain individuals as police officers in New York. The bill applies to appointments in any police agency or the Division of State Police and targets applicants who were previously fired from police service, who left a police job while under investigation or facing disciplinary action that could have led to termination, or who resigned while criminal charges were pending for on-duty conduct. The measure is aimed at preventing so-called “wandering officers” from moving between jurisdictions after serious misconduct or unresolved disciplinary matters. It would create a statewide eligibility restriction affecting police hiring standards and civil service rules, and it would apply to prior conduct in jurisdictions both inside and outside New York.

Impact

The bill would amend section 840 of the Executive Law by adding a new subdivision requiring the Civil Service Council to promulgate regulations on police officer eligibility. In practical terms, it would limit who may be appointed as a police officer in New York by disqualifying applicants with certain prior terminations, investigations, disciplinary proceedings, or pending criminal charges related to on-duty conduct. The affected parties would include police agencies, the Division of State Police, civil service authorities, and applicants with prior law enforcement misconduct histories.

Sentiment

No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or formal support/opposition in the available materials. Based on the bill’s text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as a police accountability and public safety reform intended to close a hiring loophole. The overall posture of the bill is therefore best characterized as reform-oriented, with an emphasis on preventing repeat misconduct in law enforcement.

Contention

The main likely point of contention is the breadth of the disqualification criteria, especially the inclusion of officers who left while under investigation or facing discipline that could have led to termination, which may raise due process or fairness concerns for applicants. Another possible issue is how New York would evaluate out-of-state records and determine whether prior allegations, investigations, or pending charges are sufficiently documented to bar appointment. Supporters would likely emphasize accountability and preventing problematic officers from being rehired, while critics may argue the standards are overinclusive or could complicate recruitment.