Westchester police reform task force suggests creating Office for Police Accountability

A police reform task force of 38 people compiled a report containing recommendations to modernize amd create transparency and equity in Westchester County's law enforcement agencies.

News 12 Staff

Feb 9, 2021, 11:23 PM

Updated 1,263 days ago

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Westchester is delivering a list of things the county can do to reform law enforcement months after the historic Black Lives Matter marches sparked by the death of George Floyd.
The Black Lives Matter protests shined light on racial tensions and police brutality, and now local governments are taking a hard look at police practices.
A police reform task force of 38 people compiled a report containing recommendations to modernize and create transparency and equity in Westchester County's law enforcement agencies.
It comes as Gov. Andrew Cuomo is requiring local governments to adopt police reform plans by April.
Among the recommendations, the task force suggests:
- Creating an Office for Police Accountability (OPA), which can investigate allegations of misconduct by Westchester County police
-Make nonconfidential documents public to promote transparency
-Establish an open disciplinary process
- Implement "bystandership" police training so that officers know how to intervene to prevent harm
- The creation of a countywide-shared body work camera database, which task members say would help reduce the cost of storing police body and dash cam video
The report will now go before the Westchester County Board of Legislators for review.
Once approved, it will be submitted to the state by the deadline of April 1.


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