A federal appeals court panel has denied a request by police unions to continue challenging New York City’s stop and frisk ruling.

A judge ruled last year that the city sometimes discriminated against minorities with the New York Police Department’s stop, question and frisk policy and ordered changes to departmental training and procedures.

Then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration appealed the decision. Mayor Bill de Blasio dropped the appeal when he came into office this year.

The police unions wanted to continue the fight.

The appeals court said Friday that allowing that would essentially erode the decision by New York voters to bring in a mayor who wanted to drop the appeal.

Changes have been on hold during the appeal process.

(AP)