Suffolk Police Launch Data Transparency Hub

YAPHANK, NY — The Suffolk County Police Department launched its Data Transparency Hub, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison announced on Tuesday.

The Suffolk County Police Department Data Transparency Hub will allow residents to look at data on traffic stops, pedestrian stops, hate crimes, department demographics, and more.

"In order to gain the trust of the public, I strongly believe that transparency is very, very important," Harrison said.

Traffic stop data will include breakdowns of drivers' race and ethnicity, dispositions, and where they were stopped, Harrison said. Pedestrian stops will have similar data uploaded to the hub. The hate crime dashboard will have information on hate crimes and incidents from 2018 and on.

Harrison, who assumed the commissioner position around 60 days ago, encouraged residents to use the dashboard and said he himself would be keeping an eye on the data.

Bellone, who said Harrison is one of the top law enforcement leaders in the United States, said the goal is to expand the transparency hub over time. Incoming features could include internal affairs, language access, and 911 call data.

The hub is about creating transparency, accountability, and a better relationship between the police department and public, Bellone said.

"Those who are concerned about being accountable are not going to publish data," he said. "It's easier not to publish data. It's easier to just review it internally. This is about making it public because we have leadership here that is committed to that process of excellence and getting better at what we do each and every day."

Police will also use the hub to make data-driven decisions, according to Bellone.

The hub is part of the county's Police Reform and Reinvention Plan.

Seven months-worth of conversations were had between the county, police department, and dozens of stakeholders in Suffolk, Bellone said. The result is what Bellone called "without question" the most comprehensive police reform plan of any county in New York.

In December, an agreement was reached with the Suffolk Police Benevolent Association to implement police-worn body cameras, a mental health 911 call program, community representatives at the front desks of police precincts, and civilian oversight from the Human Rights Commission.

The police reform discussions were not always easy, Bellone said.

"When you put everyone at the table, the result is, you are going to have difficult conversations. You are going to have conversations that challenge people's comfort levels. And guess what? That's what you need to do in order to make progress. If everyone is sitting around the table agreeing with one another, I can tell you what's not happening, and that's progress."

Public safety is the most important work of government, Bellone said. The reform plan includes police training and continuing education; recruitment and staffing; community policing; traffic stops; arrests and warrants; mental health response in police systems; accountability and body cameras.