Police: Upstate New York Man Who Shot at Cops Was Out on Bail Reform

All of us here at WGNA and Townsquare Media are happy to report that none of the officers involved were seriously physically injured or killed during their duties, and we appreciate the hard work and sacrifices you all make each day to try and keep our streets safe.

Thank you.

Bail Reform in New York State

Bail reform throughout New York State has been hotly contested over the last few years.  Some may argue that bail reform is a more humane and fair way to deal with criminals by reducing reliance on cash bail and ensuring that people are not detained solely because they cannot afford bail.

However, some local police haven't stopped suggesting it's not working in Upstate New York, as too many repeat and potentially violent criminals are back on the streets just hours after being arrested.

In a press release from the Troy Police Department about the officer-involved shooting that took place on Tuesday, the department specifically noted that the man who fired shots at officers this week was out on bail reform after having been arrested in Albany back in September on illegal weapons and drug charges.

What Happened?

According to the Troy Police, Michael Broadie, 39, Albany, was arrested for Attempted Murder in the First Degree - Police Officer [Four Counts], Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Police say the incident happened on 5th Avenue and Jacob Street as part of an investigation.

Sidewinder Photography says that the exchange began "when Broadie fired a single shot from a semi-automatic handgun. His weapon then malfunctioned, preventing him from firing eight additional rounds loaded in the magazine."

During the tense confrontation, four Troy Police officers fired 18 rounds during the 5 seconds of gunfire in which Broadie sustained injuries to his torso, leg, and lip.

Broadie, Arrested in September, Was Out on Bail

According to the Troy Police, this isn't Broadie's first run-in with the law.  Back in 2010, he was sentenced to 5 years of incarceration for a gun-related charge, and even as recently as September, Broadie was arrested in Albany.  When he shot at officers this week, Broadie, a career criminal, was out on bail.

"Through investigation, we have learned the Albany Police Department recently arrested the suspect in September 2024 for possessing three illegal firearms along with illicit drugs. He was currently out on bail," the Troy Police added in their press release.

The Problem with Bail Reform

A study on bail reform was done by John Jay College of Criminal Justice’s Data Collaborative for Justice, and it shows "that 66% of the people released under bail reform who had a recent prior arrest were re-arrested within two years of their release."

The source says that the study also showed two out of every three defendants who had a recent prior violent felony arrest in the past year and released under bail reform were re-arrested within two years of their arraignment...and almost half of those were felony arrests.