_________________ FREEPORT _________________
HERALD
COMMuNItY uPDAtE Infections as of March 12
5,287
Infections as of March 7 5,208
Local author donates book
County honors Chief Latmore
Learning about infamous crimes
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$1.00
MARCH 18 - 24, 2021
VOL. 86 NO. 12
CARES Act funds allocated to Freeport the town provided last week, Freeport has received nearly $200,000 in CARES Act funds this The Town of Hempstead allo- month, village officials said. cated more than $160,000 in “Local governments working Covid-19 grant funds together for the betto the Village of terment of their resFreeport on March idents is always sig14. nificant and is parThe relief funds, ticularly meaningful which came from in an era of a panthe town’s $133 mildemic,” Freeport lion CARES Act Mayor Robert Kenallotment, will help nedy said. the village with “We’re proud to unexpected expensprovide the village es incurred because with these imporDOROtHY of the pandemic, tant CARES Act particularly to pur- GOOSBY funds to assist them chase personal pro- Councilwoman in their ongoing tective equipment to response to the pandistribute to residemic and their dents and the Freeport Police and recovery efforts,” Councilwoman Fire departments. Dorothy Goosby said. “Freeport Combined with a $33,000 grant Continued on page 4
By RONNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
W
e’re proud to provide the village with these important CARES Act funds.
Courtesy Freeport Public Schools
Fostering a love of books Freeport High School student volunteer Agostina Alfonso, left, joined instructional coach Lauren Quezada and teacher Steven Probst at a book pickup event to promote literacy. Story, Page 3.
FPD submits reform plan
Officials seek to improve community relations
By RONNY REYES rreyes@liherald.com
Following Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order last June, the Freeport Police Department has submitted its proposed police reform plan for a vote by the village board at its next Village Hall meeting on March 22. Cuomo’s New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Executive Order 203 was enacted shortly after
the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin last May. F ree por t’s 32-pa g e plan comes after the police department spent months internally reviewing policies and procedures and gathering input from residents through more than 30 meetings and on-the-street interactions. Freeport Police Chief Mike Smith said the plan focuses on reinforcing training, gaining
community trust and increasing transparency. “We reached out to the local civic organizations, leaders of the clergy, the school district, the NAACP, members of the Hispanic community and various other groups for their input and to join our reform committee,” Smith said. “We even asked questions to passersby on the street. We wanted all that we Continued on page 8
ElEction RESUltS Office
Winner
No. of votes
Mayor
Robert Kennedy
3,001
Trustee
Ronald ellerbe
2,983
Trustee
evette Sanchez
2,937
Judge
V. Roy Cacciatore
2,910