Rockland Talks Healthy Relationship Between Community, Cops at June 18 Forum

What does a healthy relationship between police and the community look like? How does the grand jury process really work?

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe, along with the Rockland County Police Chiefs Association, the Rockland County Commission on Human Rights and the Rockland County NAACP, will tackle these questions during a special forum at SUNY Rockland Community College in Suffern.

The forum is scheduled for Thursday, June 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at SUNY Rockland Community College in Suffern, NY.

Participants will gather in the Ellipse Room in the Technology Center.

When Baltimore descended into chaos last month and Ferguson, Missouri erupted in violence last summer, it showed just how quickly things can get out of control when police and the community they serve aren’t on the same page, forum organizers said. Moreover, the grand jury process that followed the police-involved shootings in these cities has been largely misunderstood by both members of the media and the general public, leading to even further unrest.

“Too many people feel like the protective shield that law and order is intended to provide is not working for them,” said Zugibe. “The underlying tensions can only be resolved by giving community members a chance for their voices to be heard and then moving forward to strengthen the essential relationship between communities and the police. I invite all residents of Rockland County to take part in this important dialogue.”

The interactive panel discussion will include keynote remarks from Diego G. Rodriguez, the assistant director in charge (ADIC) of the FBI’s New York Field Office.

Said Zugibe, “This forum will allow our residents to come together, learn more about the criminal justice system and discuss ideas for lasting, constructive relationships between communities and police that are built on mutual understanding and respect.”

Bus transportation* to the forum will be provided from three locations:

• Knights of Columbus, 56 W. Broad Street, Haverstraw
• Spring Valley Police Department, 200 North Main Street, Spring Valley
• Area of Cooper Drive, South Nyack

*All buses will depart for Rockland County College at 6:15 p.m. sharp