Police Reform Measures To Be Implemented In Suffolk: Bellone

HAUPPAUGE, NY — More details of Suffolk County's Police Reform and Reinvention Plan were shared on Wednesday by Executive Steve Bellone.

After engaging with thousands of residents, the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle and others, reforms have been or will be implemented by the Suffolk County Police Department. Reforms include officers wearing body cameras, a mental health 911 call program, placing civilians at the front desks of precincts, and civilian oversight through the Human Rights Commission.

"These efforts will enable us to build upon the success that the men and women of the Suffolk County Police Department have achieved in driving down crime and making our communities safer," Bellone stated. "Policing, as we know, is a sacred duty. This plan will help ensure that our communities have trust in those sworn to protect them, and that policing is done in Suffolk County in an equitable and just manner."

The Suffolk County Legislature approved the Police Reform and Reinvention Plan in March. Eight months' worth of work has since been done to prepare the reforms to be enacted.

"At my core, I believe that public safety and justice go hand in hand," Bellone said. "This plan makes clear that we can keep our streets safe and have real accountability."

Roughly 1,600 Suffolk police officers will wear a body camera. Each officer who wears the camera will receive a $3,000 stipend, which will be phased in over a two-year period, Bellone said.

Suffolk County has included in its capital budget $24 million over a five-year period for the purchase of the cameras, implementation of the program and maintenance of the body-worn cameras and data systems.

The reform plan also calls for an overhaul of the police department's mental health crisis response. The plan calls for the implementation of a three-tier approach including 911 Call Diversion, working with mental health partners, and the expansion of Crisis Intervention Training. By the end of 2021, the department is set to exceed the goal of having 20 percent of patrol officers having taken enhanced mental health response training.

The Suffolk County Police Department Communication Section developed a call diversion procedure to triage mental health 911 calls to include mental health professionals in addition to police response. In June, the Suffolk County Police Department completed an evaluation of the department’s mental health crisis response and kicked off a 911 Call Diversion pilot program in the Third Precinct. The department is now triaging all mental health-related calls through the 911 call center for evaluation and potential diversion to the Mobile Crisis Hotline managed by Family Service League (FSL).

Starting in 2022, the Human Rights Commission will be able to receive all complaints regarding potential police misconduct. The commission will review police misconduct complaints with the Internal Affairs Bureau through a shared data portal. Residents can call Suffolk 311 to be connected directly to the Human Rights Commission.

Other police reform initiatives enacted by the county include, according to Bellone:

• De-emphasizing minor equipment violations and amending the Police Officer Monthly Activity Report to no longer include minor equipment violations and parking summonses.
• Park Walk and Talk community engagement requirement of patrol officers.
• Launch of public-facing Traffic Stop Data dashboard.
• All officers have business cards with contact information to be provided to all residents who request it.
• Enhancing language access by translating the upper portions of the Domestic Incident Report to ensure victims have full comprehension and understanding.
• Collaborating with GENY NY and LGBTQ+ advocates to assist in reviewing and enhancing training curriculum and SCPD policies to address the gender-expansive communities.
• Enhancing command oversight of no-knock warrants.
• Community engagement and participation SCPD in training academy instruction.

The reform process was not easy, Bellone said.

"We brought everyone together to have some difficult conversations," he said. "But guess what? That's what you need to do in order to make real progress. You have to be willing to take a risk or leap of faith. You have to be willing to have conversations with people who may not agree with you on certain issues, but you come together to achieve common ground. And when you do so respectfully and in good faith, you can accomplish great things."