Garden City Police Commissioner Appointed PACT Member

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced June 16, 2020 the formation of Police And Community Trust (PACT), a new Nassau County initiative aimed at building trust, transparency and a working dialogue between community activists and Police. The new effort will bring together protest organizers, law enforcement and other stakeholders to listen and engage in frank conversations about concerns raised by the community in recent weeks.

On the day that Garden City Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson was appointed a PACT member, County Executive Curran telephoned Mayor Theresa Trouvé. “She said the Commissioner was present at a former meeting she had attended, and that he had put some very good information out on the table,” Mayor Trouvé said. “I indicated that I thought he would be a wonderful member of this important undertaking.”

Commissioner Jackson, who serves as president of the Nassau County Municipal Police Chiefs Association, added, “This initiative will provide an excellent opportunity for community leaders, government officials, community activists, and police officials to get together to communicate and discuss current issues in an effort to improve community/police relations.”

County Executive Curran noted that although recent protests have been part of a national movement, PACT is Nassau County-centered, focusing on local issues and looking at ways to strengthen Nassau’s community policing model. PACT meetings will consist of the following other members:

· Nassau County Executive Laura Curran (Co-Chair)

· South Floral Park Mayor and Defense Attorney Geoffrey Prime (Co-Chair)

· Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder

· 3 members of Nassau PD Community Affairs

· Hofstra Law School Professor and former Prosecutor Fred Klein

· Student and Community Activist from Hempstead, Blair Baker

· Community Activist from Roosevelt, Tamica Cox

· Student and Community Activist from Baldwin, Alexis Holt

· Student and Community Activist from Hempstead, Travis Nelson

PACT will also engage the Nassau County District Attorney, Office of Minority Affairs, faith-based groups and Human Rights Commission to seek and gather ongoing input.