9. Confidential informants.

An agency may deny access to records or portions thereof that are compiled for law enforcement purposes and which, if disclosed, would identify a confidential source or disclose confidential information relating to criminal investigations. N.Y. Pub. Off. Law § 87(2)(e)(iii) (McKinney 1988).

For cases on confidentiality, see Laureano v. Grimes, 179 A.D.2d 602, 579 N.Y.S.2d 357, (1st Dep't 1992) (granting access to police memo books of investigation where no assertion of promise of confidentiality and confidentiality, if given, was lost since witnesses later testified); Ennis v. Slade, 179 A.D.2d 558, 579 N.Y.S.2d 59 (1st Dep't 1992), motion for leave to appeal denied, 79 N.Y.2d 758 (1992) (records of a "buy operation" were compiled for law enforcement purposes and if disclosed would reveal confidential sources and information); Geames v. Henry, 173 A.D.2d 825, 572 N.Y.S.2d 635 (2d Dep't 1991) (granting access to conviction record); Cornell University v. City of New York Police Dep't., 153 A.D.2d 515, 544 N.Y.S.2d 356, (1st Dep't 1989), leave denied, 75 N.Y.2d 707 (1990) (granting disclosure of police investigative file where witnesses were not promised anonymity); Auburn Publisher Inc. v. City of Auburn, 147 A.D.2d 900 (4th Dep't 1989) (denying access to affidavits in police investigation); Allen v. Strojnowski, 129 A.D.2d 700, 514 N.Y.S.2d 463 (3d Dep't 1987), motion for leave to appeal denied, 70 N.Y.2d 871, 518 N.E.2d 5, 523 N.Y.S.2d 493 (1987) (denying access to names, addresses and statements of confidential witnesses); Radio City Music Hall Productions v. New York City Police Dep't, 121 A.D.2d 230, 503 N.Y.S.2d 722 (lst Dep't 1986) (granting access to police investigation reports after redacting names and statements of confidential witnesses); Hawkins v. Kurlander, 98 A.D.2d 14, 469 N.Y.S.2d 820 (4th Dep't 1983) (denying access to interviews made under promise of confidentiality in connection with investigation which did not lead to filing of charges); Gannett Co. v. James, 86 A.D.2d 744, 447 N.Y.S.2d 781 (4th Dep't 1982), appeal dismissed, 56 N.Y.2d 502, 435 N.E.2d 1099, 450 N.Y.S.2d 1023 (1982) (denying access to records of complaints against police officers which might identify a confidential source); State Police v. Boehm, 71 A.D.2d 810, 419 N.Y.S.2d 23 (4th Dep't 1979) (requiring disclosure of identities of confidential informants was an abuse of discretion); Walker v. City of New York, 64 A.D.2d 980, 408 N.Y.S.2d 811 (2d Dep't 1978) (denying access to identities of confidential informants as well as confidential information relating to criminal investigation); Ragusa v. New York State Dept. of Law, 152 Misc.2d 602, 578 N.Y.S.2d 959 (Sup. Ct. 1991) (ordering disclosure of Attorney General's investigation records where no assurance of confidentiality was made in this case); Matter of Spruils, N.Y.L.J. July 28, 1995 (Sup. Ct. New York County, 1995) (denying access to police officer's memo book which might contain names, addresses and statements of confidential witnesses on personal hardship grounds); Elmira Star-Gazette v. Strojnowski, No. 9924-84 (Sup. Ct., Albany County, Nov. 7, 1984) (denying access to state police reports containing identities of confidential sources); Kwoczka v. Cawley, 103 Misc.2d 13, 425 N.Y.S.2d 247 (Sup.Ct. 1980) (denying access to testimony, audio and videotapes of undercover police investigation where such disclosure would identify informants); Petix v. Connelie, 99 Misc.2d 343, 416 N.Y.S.2d 167 (Sup. Ct. 1979) (denying access to state police internal investigation report to protect identities of confidential informants).