Ossining Appoints Police Reform Board Members

OSSINING, NY — Ossining village officials have appointed 15 members to serve on the Village’s Police Reform & Reinvention Working Committee.

The Working Committee is made up of two village elected officials, three representatives from the Ossining Police Department, one Ossining town councilmember, and nine members of the community that represent stakeholder groups including the NAACP, the Briarcliff Ossining Ministerial Association, the Community Equity Task Force, the Ossining LGBTQ Alliance and the Civilian Police Complaint Review Board.

The Working Committee is expected to provide feedback and encourage community engagement.

"Their role is essential to helping the Village respond to Governor Cuomo's Executive Order 203, the Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative," said Mayor Victoria Gearity.

In addition to the mayor, the committee members are:

• Jennifer Cabrera
• Maria Teresa (Mayte) Garcia
• Althema Goodson
• Gabrielle Hamilton
• Rev Shaun Jones
• Rodolfo Moran
• Rev Mary Phifer
• Christina Picciano
• Bishop Joan Whitaker
• Trustee Omar Lopez
• Councilmember Jackie Shaw
• Chief Kevin Sylvester
• Officer Juan Encarnacion
• Officer Ben Ervin

"At this moment of intense relations nationally between law enforcement and communities of color, we have an opportunity to bring together disenfranchised community members with local police and officials to hear each other and build on a commitment to community policing," the mayor said.

The village has a website dedicated to updates and resources for the Ossining Police Reform & Reinvention Collaborative.

"One of the first actions the Working Committee will undertake is to interview an additional candidate that may serve as an objective facilitator to assist the village in reviewing current police policy, engaging community stakeholders, and developing a plan honoring the work of the community and our police department," Gearity said. "The draft plan will be presented to the community for feedback early in the new year. The final version of the plan will be voted on by the Village Board before April 1, 2021. This ambitious timeline, the steps of the collaborative process, and the key questions and insights for consideration are directed to us by the Governor."

New York State's Resources and Guide for Public Officials and Citizens is linked on the page of the Village’s website dedicated to the Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. The four categories to be reviewed and considered are:

• What functions should the police perform?
• Employing smart and effective policing standards and strategies
• Fostering community-oriented leadership, culture and accountability
• Recruiting and supporting excellent personnel