Law Firm Barred from NYPD File in Patrick Alford Case

A federal judge has denied a request by major New York law firm Skadden Arps for access to the NYPD's investigative file in the case of Patrick Alford, the Staten Island child who disappeared from a Starrett City foster home in January, 2010.

Skadden was appointed guardian ad litem for Patrick in a lawsuit filed by his mother, Jennifer Rodriguez, against the city's Administration for Children's Services and the foster parent.

The NYPD argued that disclosure of its file might compromise the identity of informants and witnesses and endanger the child.

Brooklyn Magistrate Judge Steven Gold declined to second-guess the NYPD by allowing Skadden access to the file.

When Patrick disappeared from his foster home, the NYPD initially suspected Jennifer Rodriguez of abducting her son.  She has since passed two lie detector tests, according to her lawyer.

Rodriguez voluntarily placed Patrick with ACS so that she could deal with a drug problem.

The article from the Daily News.