Police Department hears from committee and residents (Credit: Reporter file photo)
Determined to meet the April 1 deadline to submit its Police Reform and Reinvention Plan to New York State like all communities in the state the Committee is moving forward with recommendations expected to form the basis for changes.
Meeting last Thursday morning, the group outlined the changes they said are based on a survey completed in February, a listening session with members of the public, and individual interviews it conducted with residents.
Diversifying the force is at the top of the list, and with the enactment of the federal American Rescue Plan that is slated to bring money to the state, county and town, it could be a reality this year.
Committee ponders results of police performance survey Shelter Island Police Chief Jim Read. (Credit:Reporter file photo)
Supervisor Gerry Siller pronounced the recent police survey “pretty positive overall” at the March 4 meeting of the Police Reform and Reinvention Collaboration Committee. The committee was set up in response to a state mandate that all departments in New York determine ways to improve policing.
As the discussion of the previous night’s listening session and review of the survey conducted last month progressed, committee member Jason Shields cautioned his colleagues not to base all their recommendations from a limited number of respondents. Because there were so few residents at the listening session, and 577 responding to the survey, the numbers could be skewed, Mr. Shields said.
Police Reform Committee starts its work Police Chief Jim Read (Credit: Reporter file photo)
Five newly minted members of the Police Reform Committee will be exploring ways in which Shelter Island Police can improve what most acknowledge is already an effective department functioning well with the community.
Police Chief Jim Read admitted he was initially not pleased when Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all communities to set up such committees to determine ways to improve policing.
But on reflection, he had to admit that even a department that has had no major infractions and worked well with residents could still benefit from a look at how it functions.