A revised ordinance to create a civilian review board to foster relations between the Saratoga Springs Police Department and the community was not discussed during Monday night’s city council meeting the last before Election Day.
Discussion regarding a civilian police review board in Saratoga Springs boiled over, exposing the rift between the city’s mayor and Public Safety Commissioner.
Refresh this page The Vote Is In: Saratoga Springs Adopts Police Reform Resolution
SARATOGA SPRINGS The Saratoga Springs City Council Wednesday night voted to accept the Police Reform and Reinvention plan, in advance of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s April 1 deadline.
Last year, in the wake of the death of George Floyd, Gov. Cuomo signed an executive order requiring each local government in the state adopt a policing reform plan by April 1, 2021, with municipalities not certifying adoption of a plan prior to the deadline subject to having their state aid jeopardized.
Wednesday night, during the 60-minute public comment period, one speaker after another, with few exceptions, raised questions regarding the council’s lack of willingness to fully accept the 50-point plan, as submitted by the ad hoc Saratoga Springs Police Reform Task Force, in its entirety. The topic of implementing a Civilian Review Board was a major theme.