Suffolk cops bought practically 400 misconduct complaints between March 2023 and Might 2024 — however the county’s police watchdog mentioned it nonetheless doesn’t know precisely what number of officers had been disciplined, a brand new report exhibits.
The Suffolk County Human Rights Fee’s findings praised SCPD management for being usually cooperative, however claims the fee continues to be stored at an arm’s size on the subject of proof sharing, timing, and perception into disciplinary motion.
“This data is important to civilian police oversight,” the report said, calling for “elevated transparency.”
The report notes that whereas the HRC beforehand acquired updates on disciplinary outcomes, that entry seems to have been lower off as soon as the oversight course of started in 2023.
“We’re at present within the means of advocating for the division to launch that data to us once more and extra clearly,” mentioned Dr. Carolyn Peabody, chair of the HRC’s Administration of Justice Subcommittee (AOJ).
The report additionally highlights that the AOJ, tasked with monitoring the SCPD’s Inner Affairs investigations, said that though it agreed with the division’s findings in most misconduct circumstances — it flat-out disagreed with the outcomes in 14.
The report claims that key proof, like physique cam footage, was both by no means activated or not uploaded in a well timed means, including that the absence of video in sure circumstances made it not possible to verify or problem Inner Affairs’ determinations.
“On a number of events, the fee couldn’t agree or disagree with the proposed exoneration because of an Officer’s failure to activate the body-worn digicam as per SCPD coverage.”
This was the primary civilian oversight report from the HRC for the reason that fee’s position was expanded in 2020, a part of a broader police reform plan mandated by the state following the homicide of George Floyd.
The objective, based on the state, was to extend public belief by bringing an unbiased, civilian set of eyes to a traditionally closed-door course of.
Shortly after the HRC’s growth, former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke was busted in a prostitution sting after allegedly exposing himself and making an attempt to solicit a intercourse employee at a park — his second arrest on the job — which supporters of this system pointed to as a obvious instance of why the HRC must exist.
However critics consider the system nonetheless lacks tooth.
Civil rights lawyer Frederick Brewington, who gained a $20 million settlement towards the county within the dying of Kenny Lazo, has referred to as the present oversight mannequin a “farce,” arguing that with out subpoena energy or investigative authority, the HRC can’t ship true accountability.
However Peabody believes she and the HRC are serving to usher in a brand new period of police accountability on Lengthy Island.
“We’re dedicated to doing this proper,” mentioned Peabody.
“However meaning having a full image — not simply the elements they select to share.”
The Suffolk County Police Division informed The Put up it values the collaboration with the HRC, however mentioned “with any new partnership, there’s a studying curve and we proceed to work with the fee to rectify any points.”
“We consider working with the HRC, coupled with the work of our Inner Affairs Bureau, will result in accountability and transparency,” the SCPD continued.
The Suffolk County Police Police Benevolent Affiliation didn’t reply to a request for remark.
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