Each time a City of Poughkeepsie police officer stops someone to question, frisk, search them or otherwise, they will have to identify themselves and their rank to the person.
The officer will have to explain why they have been stopped. Afterward, the officer will have to give the person a business card with their identification and contact information for the police department.
The person will need that information, because they can choose to obtain a written record of any interaction with the officer that does not end in an arrest, summons or ticket.
If the City of Poughkeepsie’s Common Council passes a law titled “City Officers and Employees,” in coordination with the Right to Know Act, to amend its code of ordinances, all city officers will be required to follow that procedure.
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It’s drawn broad approval from area community rights activists, though most say it’s simply the first step in establishing trust between residents of color and law enforcement.
It’s a law the city department can work with, Capt. Rich Wilson said, though the department has its concerns.
And it’s a law that was proposed by seven of the nine members of the Common Council.
In the law, the council said city residents “are in great debt to the hard work and dedication of police officers,” and noted the law would “increase transparency in police practices and build trust” between residents and the department.
The law, discussed simply as the Right to Know Act, was broadly discussed by community leaders and Wilson at Monday’s virtual special council meeting. A public hearing on the law will be held July 6.
“It’s an important first step,” said Jeffrey Schneider, a representative of the End the New Jim Crow Network.
In the wake of a Minneapolis police officer killing George Floyd a month ago, numerous protests and demonstrations have been held calling for an end to police brutality and systemic racism against the Black community. Multiple marches and vigils have been held in the City of Poughkeepsie, drawing thousands of protestors. Many have called for the defunding of police departments and redirecting those funds to community organizations.
Carmen McGill, a spokesperson for Poughkeepsie-based nonprofit Celebrating African Spirit, is in favor of the law. But, she added police officers can be trained in other ways to better improve relationships with their communities.
“(Police can) practice de-escalation instead of escalation, establish a civilian review committee that has the power to investigate, subpoena and resolve issues,” she said during the meeting
Schneider also suggested implicit bias training for officers, as well as “undoing racism workshops.”
“I would like to see regular and ongoing approaches to police reform,” he said.
Wilson at the meeting outlined the department’s existing policies and efforts to be transparent with residents, such as making its police manual available online, giving residents the ability to file complaints online, and requiring officers to wear body cameras.
Wilson said City of Poughkeepsie Police have discussed the "Right to Know Act," both internally and with the End New Jim Crow Network. He said the department has discussed concerns with the proposed legislation, but said “we feel we’ll be able to overcome those.”
Wilson added the department receives an average of 10 complaints per year, and most are not disciplinary issues. Most were for “rudeness” and “discourtesy,” he said.
“I think we moved as far as we could for transparency, but ultimately the council will speak for the community,” Wilson said. “I believe we are very transparent.”
A.J. Martelli: 845-437-4836, amartelli@poughkeepsiejournal.com, Twitter: @AJ_Martelli
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Poughkeepsie's 'Right to Know' law 'important first step' with community leaders' approval - Poughkeepsie Journal
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