NEW YORK, NY March 08, 2006 —The City's Civilian Complaint Review Board has substantiated misconduct charges against three ranking NYPD officers for actions during the 2004 Republican National Convention. WNYC's Bob Hennelly has more.

The CCRB says a Deputy Chief, a liutenant and a seargant abused their authority, verbally abused the public and improperly threatened arrest during anti-Republican protests. Overall the panel looked at 63 civilian complaints from the protests, dismissing 33 of them as unfounded.

In seven instances the panel couldn't identity the officers in question and in many other cases the complaintants didn't follow through. The substantiated complaints will now be forwarded to Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who has the sole discretion over what, if any, disciplinary actions is taken.

Kelly and the Mayor have staunchly defended the police response to the RNC mass protests. The officers identities were not released.