NCPD refuses to give NYCLU reports

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Hodgson also discussed the importance of having oversight for policing, such as New York City’s Citizen Complaint Review Board, an independent agency that probes into alleged misconduct reported by residents.

The board was established in 1993 by former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and the New York City Council.

“In many instances, the Citizen Complaint Review Board has undertaken an investigation, gathered evidence and found that misconduct occurred and an ofcer did, in fact, do something inappropriate and recommended levels of discipline all the way up to fring,” Hodgson said.

Hodgson said every county or municipalities situation may not be indicative of New York City’s, but said having the proper reports, statistics and resources for looking into alleged misconduct can aid in efective policing.

“Having independent oversight creates some control for people who are not part of the police agency themselves,” Hodgson said.

Some Nassau’s Democratic legislators, in

2021, called for New York Attorney General Letitia James to establish a third-party oversight ofce for the county’s police department.

Minority Leader Kevan Abrahams (DFreeport), Legislator Siela Bynoe (D-Westbury) and Legislator Carrié Solages (D-Lawrence) all signed a letter sent in March 2021 after the county Legislature approved a plan to reform and reinvent policing put forward by former Nassau County Executive Laura Curran.

Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo had required police departments across the state to provide reform plans following the George Floyd murder in Minneapolis by a police ofcer.

James, in a letter sent to the legislators in mid-April, acknowledged the benefts of establishing a remote ofce and criticized the county for not including “meaningful checks on law enforcement.” She also cited the lack of necessary funding to establish a remote oversight ofce in Nassau.

As of now, the county relies on the state Law Department’s Law Enforcement Misconduct Investigative Ofce for oversight of the police department. The legislators proposed to have a regional branch of the ofce focus solely on any misconduct in the department.

Nassau County currently leaves reviews of possible misconduct to the police themselves and from 2016 to 2021 reported zero “founded” cases of false arrest and excessive force.

But during that time 30 people won court judgments against county police for 41 allegations.

For 38 of the allegations, the Nassau County Attorney’s ofce paid money to settle the case while also barring the accuser from speaking publicly about the allegations.

Hodgson said the New York Civil Liberties Union has run into similar stalemates with “many other police departments” in New York.

The organization made requests to more than a dozen agencies in the state, some “fghting tooth and nail to either delay or outright deny” the union’s Freedom of Information Law requests.

“At this point, I would say Nassau is behind the curve,” he said. “We are eagerly awaiting more productions and for these cases to move forward in court against Nassau.”