The City of Saratoga Springs will overhaul its police response to protests following an investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James that found officers retaliated against Black Lives Matter demonstrators.
The agreement, announced Tuesday, requires the city to adopt extensive First Amendment protections, including new policies on arrests, surveillance, political interference, and protest management. Officers must now follow a tiered response system for demonstrations, prioritize de-escalation, and document all enforcement decisions.
The reforms also prohibit elected officials from pressuring police to target protesters, ban retaliatory use of Child Protective Services, and restrict unnecessary surveillance of protest participants. The city must provide regular training on de-escalation, bias prevention, and managing demonstrations while protecting First Amendment rights.
Saratoga Springs must amend its city code to allow spontaneous demonstrations, eliminate criminal penalties for permit violations, and ensure residents can safely attend public meetings and court proceedings related to protests. Internal affairs procedures will be strengthened, with annual compliance reports submitted to the Attorney General’s office.
“New Yorkers have the fundamental right to speak out, organize, and protest without fear of unlawful interruption or retaliation,” James said. “This agreement is a significant step toward rebuilding trust between the Saratoga Springs community and its police force.”
James announced the agreement comes after having reviewed hundreds of thousands of documents and interviewed witnesses, concluding that city officials and police had improperly targeted protest leaders, including making arrests without justification and failing to discipline officer misconduct.
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