There has been recent debate over the establishment of an Advisory Council on Police and Community Relations instead of a Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) in the City of Mt. Vernon. This has also been the topic of concern with citizens, community leaders and law enforcement.
It is the opinion of the Westchester Chapter of the National Black Police Association, NE Region, that an “Independent Civil Complaint Review Board" (CCRB) should be established as an effective mechanism to true transparency between law enforcement and the community they claim to serve. We are knowledgeable of other cities that have Civilian Review Boards and have adopted a system that is independent of the Police force.
Law enforcement professionals, like government employees, are hired and paid for by the citizens of the community, and they are given the exclusive right in our society to exercise physical and deadly force if necessary, in requiring citizens to comply with the laws and their commands. Our system of government is based on checks and balances; each possessing the power to curtail the activities of the other. State and local levels use similar models to ensure those who represent the interests of the people, do so in accordance within the law and not abuse the authority they have been granted.
Police departments establish policies that affect everyone in the community. Yes, there are a few in some cases with no checks and balances within “Law Enforcement” to protect the interest and rights of civilians that we are sworn to serve and protect.
To this end, from our research, the Mt. Vernon city council voted to establish a Civilian Complaint Review Board in 1982. Even though there have been many amendments around the country on how a CCRB is operated. Anything less than and CCRB is symbolism without substance.
A Civilian Complaint Review Board should be an independent civilian agency. The board should be structured with private citizens serving alongside non-uniformed retired law enforcement officers. Specific legislation should be passed by the city council that will empower the board to receive, have the power to subpoena, investigate, hear, make findings and recommend action on complaints against Law Enforcement agency of the municipalities’ jurisdiction which alleges the use of excessive or unnecessary force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, misconduct, or the use of offensive language. Investigations are conducted in an impartial fashion by the board's investigative staff. All investigations will be in partnership and alongside the law enforcement agencies investigators that complaint has been filed against.
Complaints may be made by any person whether or not that person is a victim of, or witness to, an incident. Dispositions by the board on complaints are forwarded to the District Attorneys office and the Police Commissioner. As determined by the board, dispositions may be accompanied by recommendations regarding disciplinary measures and policy changes.
In fulfillment of its mission, the board should pledged:
· To encourage members of the community to file complaints when they feel they have been victims of police misconduct.
· To encourage all parties involved in a complaint to come forward and present whatever evidence they may have and to investigate each allegation thoroughly and impartially.
· To examine carefully each investigative report to insure that all possible efforts have been made to resolve the complaint.
· To make objective determinations on the merits of each case.
·To recommend disciplinary actions that are fair and appropriate, if and when the investigative findings show that misconduct occurred.
· To respect the rights of both the complainants and the subject Law Enforcement officers.
· To engage in community outreach throughout the county of Westchester to educate the general public concerning the agency's purpose and the services provided and to respond to the comments and questions of the public concerning issues relevant to the agency's operation.
· To report any patterns of misconduct uncovered during the course of investigations and review of complaints to the Westchester County District Attorneys office and the Department of Justice under the “Police Misconduct Provision”.
· To report to the police commissioners of the counties local, towns, and villages relevant issues and policy matters coming to the board's attention.
To assure its effectiveness the board will utilize the national standards of (NACOLE) The National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement.
In Unity and Peace
Damon K. Jones
North East Region Representative
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
County Executive Andy Spano clueless that County Law Enforcement Professionals Working without Labor Contract Since 2006
In the debate Wednesday night, October 21, 2010, our County Executive Andy Spano was asked a question about unsettled contracts between County Police and Correction Unions. His response was like an old man not recalling where he put his car keys. He couldn’t recollect if the contracts was settled. The question we must as citizens and law enforcement professionals, is this really what we need as the head executor of our county government for another Four Years? A man that does not recall if labor contracts for county employees are settled and up to date. Maybe Mr. Spano didn’t get the memo; there is no settlement.
Our County Executive can remember that according to Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s rating the County’s fiscal stability rating is AAA. He can remember to brag about the Department of Corrections operating at the highest standards in the nation and being at the top two percent in the nation. Its total hypocrisy that he cant remember that the County hasn’t settled its labor contracts with these same hard working law enforcement officers since 2006.
Westchester County law enforcement professionals have been diligent in their duty to serve and protect its citizens. They have performed admirably while often under the strain of being wounded in the line of duty or having a partner killed or injured. There are Correction Officers who single-handedly supervises a housing area of 40-60 inmates. Officers continue to be exposed to deadly diseases like AIDS, Staph infections like MRSA, Hepatitis and now H1N1 virus. It is not unusual for officers to be assaulted by inmates or with bodily fluids. But with no contract in sight, the county executive having a senior moment, the question remains: while we are protecting the public, who is protecting us?
Westchester County Law enforcement workers have worked tirelessly over the years to maintain law and order in the County. Yet, both Police and Correction Officers have not had a raise since 2006.
According to a recent article in the NY Daily News (11/1/08), NYC correction officers will receive an decent pay raise over the next two years. In addition, they will get another raise to match what police recently secured. The contract, which extends to 2011, also restores monies to the city pays annually to individual members' annuity funds and contributions per member to its legal representation fund.
The NYC Department of Corrections is not accredited by the American Correction Association. But in Westchester, the department of corrections received National Accreditation from the American Correction Association in January 2009. This means that the Norwood E. Jackson Correctional Facility Correction Officers operate at the highest standards in the nation.
It is clear that law enforcement professionals in NYC have a strong base of support; they have people protecting them; officials who understand what they do; and they have a strong union.
Unfortunately in Westchester, we have no one to protect us while we protect and serve. There seems to be no respect for officers that sacrifice their time and family and put their lives on the line. Maybe sometime soon Andy Spano will remember and care enough to ratify and show respect to the hard working Correction and Police officers who have work diligently and sacrificed time and family to protect and serve the citizens of Westchester County. Since he keeps forgetting, and its been since 2006, maybe not!
Our County Executive can remember that according to Moody’s and Standard and Poor’s rating the County’s fiscal stability rating is AAA. He can remember to brag about the Department of Corrections operating at the highest standards in the nation and being at the top two percent in the nation. Its total hypocrisy that he cant remember that the County hasn’t settled its labor contracts with these same hard working law enforcement officers since 2006.
Westchester County law enforcement professionals have been diligent in their duty to serve and protect its citizens. They have performed admirably while often under the strain of being wounded in the line of duty or having a partner killed or injured. There are Correction Officers who single-handedly supervises a housing area of 40-60 inmates. Officers continue to be exposed to deadly diseases like AIDS, Staph infections like MRSA, Hepatitis and now H1N1 virus. It is not unusual for officers to be assaulted by inmates or with bodily fluids. But with no contract in sight, the county executive having a senior moment, the question remains: while we are protecting the public, who is protecting us?
Westchester County Law enforcement workers have worked tirelessly over the years to maintain law and order in the County. Yet, both Police and Correction Officers have not had a raise since 2006.
According to a recent article in the NY Daily News (11/1/08), NYC correction officers will receive an decent pay raise over the next two years. In addition, they will get another raise to match what police recently secured. The contract, which extends to 2011, also restores monies to the city pays annually to individual members' annuity funds and contributions per member to its legal representation fund.
The NYC Department of Corrections is not accredited by the American Correction Association. But in Westchester, the department of corrections received National Accreditation from the American Correction Association in January 2009. This means that the Norwood E. Jackson Correctional Facility Correction Officers operate at the highest standards in the nation.
It is clear that law enforcement professionals in NYC have a strong base of support; they have people protecting them; officials who understand what they do; and they have a strong union.
Unfortunately in Westchester, we have no one to protect us while we protect and serve. There seems to be no respect for officers that sacrifice their time and family and put their lives on the line. Maybe sometime soon Andy Spano will remember and care enough to ratify and show respect to the hard working Correction and Police officers who have work diligently and sacrificed time and family to protect and serve the citizens of Westchester County. Since he keeps forgetting, and its been since 2006, maybe not!
Monday, October 12, 2009
As Black Men, leaders, providers, fathers, brothers, and sons of the Black community of Westchester County, we cannot sit by without outrage and ager any longer.
It is unfortunate that the majority of the violence is perpetrated by 16-22 years old who have either dropped out of school, cannot find a means to make a living and turn to guns, “gangs,” and/or violence for means of survival. Already in 2009, Mt Vernon, a city with the highest percentage of Black men and women in Westchester County, New York has had nine homicides and a total of 27 homicides in the last 2 1/2 years. This means 27 men has lost their lives and 27 families have been affected forever! According to news reports, shooting incidents has jumped 59 percent in Mt. Vernon since last year. Why our local, state, and federal elected officials did not see a greater need to invest in our youth and in our community?
On a national level Black youth age 10 to 17 constitute 15% of their age group in the U.S. population, they account for 26% of juvenile arrests, 32% of delinquency referrals to juvenile court, 41% of juveniles detained in delinquency cases, 46% of juveniles in corrections institutions, and 52% of juveniles transferred to adult criminal court after judicial hearings.
Black families have the largest proportion of female headed households than any other subgroup. The number of two parent families has declined dramatically in recent years. More than 44% of black families are female headed and are raising a household at or below poverty level. We cannot pass the blame for our inactivity as Black men for not being on our post as husband, father, and head of household.
If our prospective leaders won’t take the role in challenging our local and state governmental officials for the survival of the Black community. As Black Men, it’s our moral, ethical, spiritual duty to step up. We cannot expect the Courts, Jails and Penitentiaries to truly save our youth. These are the same institutions that generate billions of dollars on the incarceration of our Black youth.
We have come so far from the morals and values that were pledged at the Million man March in 1995. The world watched as we took the oath for Freedom, Justice, Equality and to build a safe community for our families The Black Community; especially the Black Man must regain the commitment, the love, and the unity that we shown in at Million Man March fourteen years ago.
Damon K. Jones
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Westchester’s Municipalities Bottom Line more Important than the lives of Law Enforcement
How many times will the law enforcement community and the people that they serve allow our elected officials to risk the safety of our community and the lives of our dedicated law enforcement officers?
The recent decision of the Yonkers City Council and Mayor not to authorize and provide funding to the Yonkers Police Department to purchase new bullet proof vests is unacceptable. It indicates to us that the bottom line is more important than the safety of the men and women who place their lives on the line for eight to sometimes sixteen hours a day.
The National Black Police Association has found that these careless governmental decisions have occurred not only in Yonkers but elsewhere in Westchester County. When you have cities such as Mount Vernon and Yonkers that have been infected with Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), gang members video-taping themselves with SALW, along with the rise of people being shot at or killed, the Police Departments should be well trained and equipped to do their jobs. They need to have the best equipment and training those professionals should have available to them. For any officer to go 5 to 10 years in this type of environment without the municipalities updating their body armor is an insult to the police officers and their families.
Unfortunately these decision makers will not properly respond until a life is lost. Regretfully if a life is lost, shortly thereafter a report would most likely be issued, more recommendations given and still nothing would be corrected. Why? This is because effective correction of a problem such as this in law enforcement costs money. It’s the NBPA’s opinion; our leaders would rather foolishly bury their heads in the sand and hopethat an officer is not mortally wounded than have the courage to invest in the safety of our law enforcement professionals.
In Unity and Peace
Damon K. Jones
North East Region Representative
National Black Police Association
The recent decision of the Yonkers City Council and Mayor not to authorize and provide funding to the Yonkers Police Department to purchase new bullet proof vests is unacceptable. It indicates to us that the bottom line is more important than the safety of the men and women who place their lives on the line for eight to sometimes sixteen hours a day.
The National Black Police Association has found that these careless governmental decisions have occurred not only in Yonkers but elsewhere in Westchester County. When you have cities such as Mount Vernon and Yonkers that have been infected with Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), gang members video-taping themselves with SALW, along with the rise of people being shot at or killed, the Police Departments should be well trained and equipped to do their jobs. They need to have the best equipment and training those professionals should have available to them. For any officer to go 5 to 10 years in this type of environment without the municipalities updating their body armor is an insult to the police officers and their families.
Unfortunately these decision makers will not properly respond until a life is lost. Regretfully if a life is lost, shortly thereafter a report would most likely be issued, more recommendations given and still nothing would be corrected. Why? This is because effective correction of a problem such as this in law enforcement costs money. It’s the NBPA’s opinion; our leaders would rather foolishly bury their heads in the sand and hopethat an officer is not mortally wounded than have the courage to invest in the safety of our law enforcement professionals.
In Unity and Peace
Damon K. Jones
North East Region Representative
National Black Police Association
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Response to Janet Defiore and the Mt. Vernon Democratic Committee
In response to the statement and press conference by Janet Defiore and the so-called Mt. Vernon Democrat supporters on the recent mailing of a flyer that had myself and Tony Castro candidate for District Attorney. It is amazing that Janet Defiore and her supporters would jump to conclusions so fast. No one asked me if I was responsible for sending this mailing out. I was asked to give a statement by Mr. Zherka, which I did, in support of Castro. That is all! The P.O. Box address is registered in Mr. Zherka’s name. We must wonder, is this the same form of research used by Janet Defiore to prosecute cases? No wonder Naimah Yancy, Dara Massey, Primivita Diaz, Irma Marquez, and Lance Cooper were all falsely prosecuted by Janet Defiore’s office. This is the same Democratic Party City Committee that did not know how to legally and properly submit petitions. So, it is no wonder they would falsely accuse me of doing something I did not do without properly finding out the facts.
Now that an attack has been made by Janet Defiore and these so-called Mt. Vernon Committee leaders on my character; without doing proper research of the facts; it is incumbent that I respond with Actual Facts.
The District Attorney’s office must be held accountable in failing to prosecute shootings and attempted murder cases. Those actions allow these offenders to walk the streets of Mount Vernon unchecked, often times holding the community hostage and paralyzed by fear. It is only a matter of time before they commit another murder, which is often in these same poor, immigrant and disadvantaged communities throughout Westchester. The District Attorney’s office refuses to prosecute, even when they have witnesses or compelling evidence. If these same shootings, as well as drug and violent crimes occurred in Rye and or Scarsdale, the District Attorney’s office would most certainly prosecute. SO WHY ARE THEY SUPPORTING HER?
The “sweep under the rug technique” used by Westchester politicians and the DA’s office was a disservice to the Ridley Family, the four County Police Officers, ALL Mt. Vernon Police Officers and the Mt. Vernon Community. I will never forget the Detective Ridley tragedy and by no means will I ever use it for any political gain, because I am not a politician. I have supported the Ridley family from the beginning. I have stood with Stan Ridley when he announced his lawsuit against the county and Janet Defiore when none of these so-called Democratic community leaders would. Where were these so-called community leaders and supporters, then? I have supported the Ridley family from the beginning and will support them to the end. The question is, can these so-called community leaders say the same?
I have given service to the community of Mt. Vernon for over a decade. I was president of the Universal Community Development Corp. I was a member of Ujima Million Man March organization. I even worked on the plans for the Hip-hop Museum under former Mayor Davis. My son was born and lives in Mt. Vernon. I have been consistent in fighting for Human and Civil Rights violations of people of all colors. If there is an interloper around, it is these so-called leaders of the Democratic committee of Mt. Vernon. They interlope on the community’s Freedom of Thought, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Action.It is time for Revolutionary thinking in how the people of Mt. Vernon handle Politics, Policies and Procedures that affect our everyday life. Begin the change now!
Damon K. Jones
Now that an attack has been made by Janet Defiore and these so-called Mt. Vernon Committee leaders on my character; without doing proper research of the facts; it is incumbent that I respond with Actual Facts.
The District Attorney’s office must be held accountable in failing to prosecute shootings and attempted murder cases. Those actions allow these offenders to walk the streets of Mount Vernon unchecked, often times holding the community hostage and paralyzed by fear. It is only a matter of time before they commit another murder, which is often in these same poor, immigrant and disadvantaged communities throughout Westchester. The District Attorney’s office refuses to prosecute, even when they have witnesses or compelling evidence. If these same shootings, as well as drug and violent crimes occurred in Rye and or Scarsdale, the District Attorney’s office would most certainly prosecute. SO WHY ARE THEY SUPPORTING HER?
The “sweep under the rug technique” used by Westchester politicians and the DA’s office was a disservice to the Ridley Family, the four County Police Officers, ALL Mt. Vernon Police Officers and the Mt. Vernon Community. I will never forget the Detective Ridley tragedy and by no means will I ever use it for any political gain, because I am not a politician. I have supported the Ridley family from the beginning. I have stood with Stan Ridley when he announced his lawsuit against the county and Janet Defiore when none of these so-called Democratic community leaders would. Where were these so-called community leaders and supporters, then? I have supported the Ridley family from the beginning and will support them to the end. The question is, can these so-called community leaders say the same?
I have given service to the community of Mt. Vernon for over a decade. I was president of the Universal Community Development Corp. I was a member of Ujima Million Man March organization. I even worked on the plans for the Hip-hop Museum under former Mayor Davis. My son was born and lives in Mt. Vernon. I have been consistent in fighting for Human and Civil Rights violations of people of all colors. If there is an interloper around, it is these so-called leaders of the Democratic committee of Mt. Vernon. They interlope on the community’s Freedom of Thought, Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Action.It is time for Revolutionary thinking in how the people of Mt. Vernon handle Politics, Policies and Procedures that affect our everyday life. Begin the change now!
Damon K. Jones
Monday, August 24, 2009
True Community Based Policing is the Core for a Better Community for All
In a post 9-11 world, the police have become more militarized in operation and thinking. The new police exist in the U.S. as a paramilitary force, the role of protect and serve is to preserve the system just as it is and do the bidding of the power elite. Any other analysis of the role of police is just romanticized nonsense.
Community-based policing is both a philosophy (a way of thinking) and an organizational strategy (a means to carry out that philosophy) that allows the police andcommunity to work together in new ways to solve problems of crime, disorder and safety. It rests on two core elements: changing the methods and practice of the police and taking steps to establish a real working relationship between the police and the community they claim to protect and serve.
The philosophy is built on the belief that the community deserves an input into policing, and indeed, has a right to it. It also rests on the view that in order to find solutions to community problems, the police and the public must move beyond a narrow focus on individual crimes or incidents, and instead consider innovative ways of addressing community concerns.At the heart of community-based policing is the recognition that the police are much more than mere crime fighters and can be public servants in other ways. The end goal is the creation of a professional, representative, responsive, and accountable institution that works in partnership with the public. These ‘peace officers’ are a service rather than a force, and an institution that only criminals need rightly fear.
Achieving these goals requires taking action at three levels: individual, institutional, and social. Even as the values of service and competency are imparted at the level of the individual officer, an appropriate management structure capable of embedding and sustaining these values must be created as well. In order to achieve this goal, management must first have a relationship with the community. Reform to the police alone, however, is insufficient; community support and assistance are also necessary to achieving the basic goals of the police. Community-based policing, therefore, also encompasses strategies to reorient the public who, for frequently good reasons, have been leery and distrustful of the police. However, beyond a rhetorical commitment to community policing there has been little sense of how to operate a process to achieve the changes sought. In the best-case scenario, management should come from the community; have a true history with the people in that community so it will enable them to better manage the rank and file to give proper service to the community through law enforcement.
In the communities of color in Westchester, the crime rate has escalated with the insurgence of weapons in the communities. Controlling the availability and circulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) is vital in the effort to increase community safety, the aim of community-based policing. However, citizens will only be willing to hand over firearms in their possession if they perceive an improvement in public safety and security and if they have a certain degree of trust in the police and other security agencies. This is where community- based policing can play an important role in strengthening SALW initiatives. Similarly, if there is a good working relationship between the policing and the community, it will be easier for the policing to obtain information about arms caches or transit routes for arms trafficking.
Community-based policing can contribute to a wider poverty reduction strategy. Several agencies and governments have recognized the links between security, development, and poverty reduction. High levels of crime stifle development in any community, businesses become the victims of crime, commercial activities are interrupted, and outside investment leaves.The poor and marginalized also suffer disproportionately from the effects of crime and violence. They lack adequate protection from corrupt or dysfunctional security institutions. The poor are also often marginalized when it comes to political or social structures and are likely to have very little influence over the policies and programs that affect their daily lives.Community-based policing, through its partnership approach, aims to ensure that the safety and security needs of all groups in a particular community are addressed. In this way, the police can facilitate all people’s access to justice, regardless of their social oreconomic status.
Addressing local needs while effectively combating crime improves safety and security, and with it, strengthens the conditions for development to take place.Policing is an activity that is not carried out in isolation. All the disparate aspects of policing that individual officer are called upon from issuing parking tickets to thwarting crimes impact and involve other institutions and processes. In closing, effective Community Policing will link other criminal justice institutions. The Police Department is the primary entry point to the justice system and the part in closest contact with the public. A fair, competent, non-discriminatory, and respectful police is integral to upholding the rule of law. Along with courts and the correctional service, the police are an essential part of the ‘triad’ of institutions needed to make a justice system run effectively and truly serve its community.
In Unity and In Peace,
Damon K. Jones
North East Region Representative
National Black Police Association
Community-based policing is both a philosophy (a way of thinking) and an organizational strategy (a means to carry out that philosophy) that allows the police andcommunity to work together in new ways to solve problems of crime, disorder and safety. It rests on two core elements: changing the methods and practice of the police and taking steps to establish a real working relationship between the police and the community they claim to protect and serve.
The philosophy is built on the belief that the community deserves an input into policing, and indeed, has a right to it. It also rests on the view that in order to find solutions to community problems, the police and the public must move beyond a narrow focus on individual crimes or incidents, and instead consider innovative ways of addressing community concerns.At the heart of community-based policing is the recognition that the police are much more than mere crime fighters and can be public servants in other ways. The end goal is the creation of a professional, representative, responsive, and accountable institution that works in partnership with the public. These ‘peace officers’ are a service rather than a force, and an institution that only criminals need rightly fear.
Achieving these goals requires taking action at three levels: individual, institutional, and social. Even as the values of service and competency are imparted at the level of the individual officer, an appropriate management structure capable of embedding and sustaining these values must be created as well. In order to achieve this goal, management must first have a relationship with the community. Reform to the police alone, however, is insufficient; community support and assistance are also necessary to achieving the basic goals of the police. Community-based policing, therefore, also encompasses strategies to reorient the public who, for frequently good reasons, have been leery and distrustful of the police. However, beyond a rhetorical commitment to community policing there has been little sense of how to operate a process to achieve the changes sought. In the best-case scenario, management should come from the community; have a true history with the people in that community so it will enable them to better manage the rank and file to give proper service to the community through law enforcement.
In the communities of color in Westchester, the crime rate has escalated with the insurgence of weapons in the communities. Controlling the availability and circulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW) is vital in the effort to increase community safety, the aim of community-based policing. However, citizens will only be willing to hand over firearms in their possession if they perceive an improvement in public safety and security and if they have a certain degree of trust in the police and other security agencies. This is where community- based policing can play an important role in strengthening SALW initiatives. Similarly, if there is a good working relationship between the policing and the community, it will be easier for the policing to obtain information about arms caches or transit routes for arms trafficking.
Community-based policing can contribute to a wider poverty reduction strategy. Several agencies and governments have recognized the links between security, development, and poverty reduction. High levels of crime stifle development in any community, businesses become the victims of crime, commercial activities are interrupted, and outside investment leaves.The poor and marginalized also suffer disproportionately from the effects of crime and violence. They lack adequate protection from corrupt or dysfunctional security institutions. The poor are also often marginalized when it comes to political or social structures and are likely to have very little influence over the policies and programs that affect their daily lives.Community-based policing, through its partnership approach, aims to ensure that the safety and security needs of all groups in a particular community are addressed. In this way, the police can facilitate all people’s access to justice, regardless of their social oreconomic status.
Addressing local needs while effectively combating crime improves safety and security, and with it, strengthens the conditions for development to take place.Policing is an activity that is not carried out in isolation. All the disparate aspects of policing that individual officer are called upon from issuing parking tickets to thwarting crimes impact and involve other institutions and processes. In closing, effective Community Policing will link other criminal justice institutions. The Police Department is the primary entry point to the justice system and the part in closest contact with the public. A fair, competent, non-discriminatory, and respectful police is integral to upholding the rule of law. Along with courts and the correctional service, the police are an essential part of the ‘triad’ of institutions needed to make a justice system run effectively and truly serve its community.
In Unity and In Peace,
Damon K. Jones
North East Region Representative
National Black Police Association
Monday, July 27, 2009
Professor Gates Nightmare is a Black Mans Reality
The incident that happened to our beloved brother Professor Henry Lewis Gates Jr. is a constant reminder of the true meaning of institutionalized racism. The reality is; it just doesn’t matter if you’re a student from New Rochelle, N.Y. with a scholarship, a world renowned professor of learning, or an off duty police officer making an arrest, as long as your skin color is Black, the institution of policing sees you as a criminal first.
We question Sgt. Crowleys report of the incident by the simple fact that the department dropped the charges. Disorderly Conduct Charges are common among cases found when the actions of the arresting officer are in question. Most victims of racial profiling live at poverty level or below and do not have the means to afford proper legal representation. The majority are ill-advised regarding their charges and have no other choice but to plea bargain for a lesser charge. Mr. Gates is not the average person that couldn’t afford good legal council. They knew that Mr. Gates had the finances to fight the charges to the full extent of the law. So it was expedient for the officials of Cambridge to drop the charges to save the embarrassment of a possible law suit for false arrest.
President Obama and Massachusetts Governor Patrick were correct when freely criticizing the actions of Sgt. Crowley and the Cambridge Police Department. The National Black Police Association has been addressing this issue for decades. Politicians and policy makers have kept their eyes wide shut for too long to this ongoing problem. We have seen the civil rights of our mothers, sisters, fathers and brothers repeatedly violated and abused. How many more reports of police misconduct and criminality must we hear about until Politicians have the testicular fortitude to ask for accountability and proper oversight in law enforcement nation wide?
The National Black Police Association has been in existence since 1972 nationally and has chartered organizations in the United Kingdom, Canada and Bermuda. The principal concerns of the National Black Police Association are the promotion of justice, fairness, and effectiveness in law enforcement issues and the effect of those issues upon the total community.
We question Sgt. Crowleys report of the incident by the simple fact that the department dropped the charges. Disorderly Conduct Charges are common among cases found when the actions of the arresting officer are in question. Most victims of racial profiling live at poverty level or below and do not have the means to afford proper legal representation. The majority are ill-advised regarding their charges and have no other choice but to plea bargain for a lesser charge. Mr. Gates is not the average person that couldn’t afford good legal council. They knew that Mr. Gates had the finances to fight the charges to the full extent of the law. So it was expedient for the officials of Cambridge to drop the charges to save the embarrassment of a possible law suit for false arrest.
President Obama and Massachusetts Governor Patrick were correct when freely criticizing the actions of Sgt. Crowley and the Cambridge Police Department. The National Black Police Association has been addressing this issue for decades. Politicians and policy makers have kept their eyes wide shut for too long to this ongoing problem. We have seen the civil rights of our mothers, sisters, fathers and brothers repeatedly violated and abused. How many more reports of police misconduct and criminality must we hear about until Politicians have the testicular fortitude to ask for accountability and proper oversight in law enforcement nation wide?
The National Black Police Association has been in existence since 1972 nationally and has chartered organizations in the United Kingdom, Canada and Bermuda. The principal concerns of the National Black Police Association are the promotion of justice, fairness, and effectiveness in law enforcement issues and the effect of those issues upon the total community.
National Latino Officers Association Supports Gates and Obama
The disproportionate stopping of African Americans and Latinos by law enforcement is a national problem. We support the President 100% on this issue.
“What I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there is a long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That's just a fact.”
The National Latino Officers Association supports the comments made by the President of the United States Barrack Obama. For the first time perhaps there was an acknowledgement and understanding of what many minorities know to be true, that African Americans and Latinos are being stopped disproportionately by law enforcement.
The President should not apologize for being African American and having a greater understanding and sensitivity to racial profiling or over bearing police responses. We should be clear, the President never asked the Cambridge police to apologize. The officer’s response however, clearly shows that he is responding to an African American and not the President of the United States. Any police officer after reviewing his actions in retrospect can conclude that this situation if handled differently could have better served police and community relations.
We also agree that the officers acted “stupidly” in arresting a man in his own home for disorderly conduct. Police officers are held to a higher standard than the public. They are trained to de-escalate situations and to be more tolerant. The officer in question, an instructor of sensitivity, should have exercised more discretion between free speech and the necessary element of public alarm for disorderly conduct. It is a common practice, often complained of, that requesting an officer’s name and badge number often results in being arrested.
Resisting arrest, resisting arrest without violence, disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration and similarly worded statutes are tools for law enforcement officers to advance or support legitimate police actions and strategies. These statutes were never meant to advance the intimidation of the public.
Whether you call it racial profiling, selective enforcement, abuse of authority, disparate impact or any other name which translates to illegal, it is a national and local issue that plagues African Americans, Latinos and others who are not Caucasian. It is long overdue that law enforcement practices be more closely scrutinized for civil rights violations. All law enforcement agencies should be mandated to analyze and document their enforcement activities for race, age, and sexual orientation for review by the public.
Police practices need greater accountability for the protection, advancement and potential violations of civil rights with renewed vitality.
Anthony Miranda
Executive Chairman NLOA
“What I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there is a long history in this country of African Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately. That's just a fact.”
The National Latino Officers Association supports the comments made by the President of the United States Barrack Obama. For the first time perhaps there was an acknowledgement and understanding of what many minorities know to be true, that African Americans and Latinos are being stopped disproportionately by law enforcement.
The President should not apologize for being African American and having a greater understanding and sensitivity to racial profiling or over bearing police responses. We should be clear, the President never asked the Cambridge police to apologize. The officer’s response however, clearly shows that he is responding to an African American and not the President of the United States. Any police officer after reviewing his actions in retrospect can conclude that this situation if handled differently could have better served police and community relations.
We also agree that the officers acted “stupidly” in arresting a man in his own home for disorderly conduct. Police officers are held to a higher standard than the public. They are trained to de-escalate situations and to be more tolerant. The officer in question, an instructor of sensitivity, should have exercised more discretion between free speech and the necessary element of public alarm for disorderly conduct. It is a common practice, often complained of, that requesting an officer’s name and badge number often results in being arrested.
Resisting arrest, resisting arrest without violence, disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental administration and similarly worded statutes are tools for law enforcement officers to advance or support legitimate police actions and strategies. These statutes were never meant to advance the intimidation of the public.
Whether you call it racial profiling, selective enforcement, abuse of authority, disparate impact or any other name which translates to illegal, it is a national and local issue that plagues African Americans, Latinos and others who are not Caucasian. It is long overdue that law enforcement practices be more closely scrutinized for civil rights violations. All law enforcement agencies should be mandated to analyze and document their enforcement activities for race, age, and sexual orientation for review by the public.
Police practices need greater accountability for the protection, advancement and potential violations of civil rights with renewed vitality.
Anthony Miranda
Executive Chairman NLOA
New Rochelle teen alleges civil rights violations by police
ROCHELLE - A black teenager and son of a city detective is alleging he was assaulted by police, and yesterday local black leaders pressed the city for answers."Don't get me wrong, there are some good police officers - black, white, purple and green," said Ron Williams, president of the city's chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. "There's also a lot of bad police officers, but we're not painting them all with the same brush. All we're saying is we want to be treated with respect just like everyone else.
"Demetrius Hazelton, 17, was arrested April 13 on a charge of disorderly conduct, a violation. He is due in City Court on Thursday.
Williams stood yesterday alongside Hazelton and his father, Detective Timothy McKnight, to discuss the allegation. About 50 people stood behind them in solidarity.
Earlier this month, Hazelton filed a notice of claim against the city. He alleges in his lawsuit that his civil rights were violated during his arrest. Several city officials, including City Manager Charles Strome III, police Capt. Joseph Schaller, acting Corporation Counsel Kathleen Gill and city spokeswoman Kathy Gilwit, declined to comment on the allegation. Each cited pending litigation as the reason for not discussing the matter.
Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll and Mayor Noam Bramson could not be reached for comment.
According to the police report, officers responded to noisy parties at the Hartley Houses complex April 13 and tried to break up an altercation there.After the crowd ignored police commands to calm down, the report said, an officer brandished a Taser and fired it in the air without a cartridge to show the crowd the device's electric shock.The report said many of the people there, including Hazelton, ran from the police and into traffic on Lincoln Avenue. An officer asked Hazelton to get off the road, the report said, and Hazelton mocked the officer's commands by imitating him with a "white racial monotone voice." The report described the voice as the same one comedian Dave Chappelle uses "when making fun of white people."
The officer again asked Hazelton to get off the road, according to the report, and Hazelton said, "What the (expletive) are you going to do, white boy? My father is a detective. What are you, just a cop?"
Hazelton mocked the police to the crowd, according to the report, and an officer tried arresting him by pushing the teen against a police car.
Hazelton then tried to push himself off the car when another officer came by to help take Hazelton down to the ground, the report said.
Calvin Scholar, Hazelton's attorney, disputed the police report and alleged that several key details from the incident were omitted from the report.Those alleged omissions make up a bulk of the lawsuit against the city.
The lawsuit claims the officer pushing Hazelton against the police car threatened to break his arms while other officers smashed his head multiple times against the car."We dispute that there was any lawful reason for him to be arrested," Scholar said.
"We believe he was singled out."Scholar added that Hazelton did not use a Dave Chappelle voice to mock the officer but said Hazelton did reference the fact he was the son of a New Rochelle detective.
McKnight did not want to comment on his son's lawsuit, but Damon Jones, executive director of the Westchester County chapter of the National Black Police Association, spoke on his behalf.Jones said Hazelton's arrest wasn't an isolated incident happening in the area."This is an issue in communities of color throughout Westchester County," Jones said."If false reports are generated, we cannot trust the internal mechanisms of the New Rochelle Police Department to police their own," Jones continued. "There has to be some type of outside investigation."
"Demetrius Hazelton, 17, was arrested April 13 on a charge of disorderly conduct, a violation. He is due in City Court on Thursday.
Williams stood yesterday alongside Hazelton and his father, Detective Timothy McKnight, to discuss the allegation. About 50 people stood behind them in solidarity.
Earlier this month, Hazelton filed a notice of claim against the city. He alleges in his lawsuit that his civil rights were violated during his arrest. Several city officials, including City Manager Charles Strome III, police Capt. Joseph Schaller, acting Corporation Counsel Kathleen Gill and city spokeswoman Kathy Gilwit, declined to comment on the allegation. Each cited pending litigation as the reason for not discussing the matter.
Police Commissioner Patrick Carroll and Mayor Noam Bramson could not be reached for comment.
According to the police report, officers responded to noisy parties at the Hartley Houses complex April 13 and tried to break up an altercation there.After the crowd ignored police commands to calm down, the report said, an officer brandished a Taser and fired it in the air without a cartridge to show the crowd the device's electric shock.The report said many of the people there, including Hazelton, ran from the police and into traffic on Lincoln Avenue. An officer asked Hazelton to get off the road, the report said, and Hazelton mocked the officer's commands by imitating him with a "white racial monotone voice." The report described the voice as the same one comedian Dave Chappelle uses "when making fun of white people."
The officer again asked Hazelton to get off the road, according to the report, and Hazelton said, "What the (expletive) are you going to do, white boy? My father is a detective. What are you, just a cop?"
Hazelton mocked the police to the crowd, according to the report, and an officer tried arresting him by pushing the teen against a police car.
Hazelton then tried to push himself off the car when another officer came by to help take Hazelton down to the ground, the report said.
Calvin Scholar, Hazelton's attorney, disputed the police report and alleged that several key details from the incident were omitted from the report.Those alleged omissions make up a bulk of the lawsuit against the city.
The lawsuit claims the officer pushing Hazelton against the police car threatened to break his arms while other officers smashed his head multiple times against the car."We dispute that there was any lawful reason for him to be arrested," Scholar said.
"We believe he was singled out."Scholar added that Hazelton did not use a Dave Chappelle voice to mock the officer but said Hazelton did reference the fact he was the son of a New Rochelle detective.
McKnight did not want to comment on his son's lawsuit, but Damon Jones, executive director of the Westchester County chapter of the National Black Police Association, spoke on his behalf.Jones said Hazelton's arrest wasn't an isolated incident happening in the area."This is an issue in communities of color throughout Westchester County," Jones said."If false reports are generated, we cannot trust the internal mechanisms of the New Rochelle Police Department to police their own," Jones continued. "There has to be some type of outside investigation."
Saturday, June 6, 2009
National Black Police Association supports Mothers of
victims killed by Street Violence
Ms. Miriam Williams speaking out against Street Violence 
Westchester NBPA with parents and supporters of victims killed by Street Violence
As Black Law Enforcement, many of these homicides, we either know the victim, their family or someone who knows them. When a life is lost in our community, we feel the pain as well.
The Westchester Chapter of the National Black Police Association supports the parents of victims of street violence throughout Westchester County.
On June 6, 2009, Executive Director Damon K. Jones and President Sterling Dixson stand tall with mothers of victims at the press conference held by Ms Miriam Williams’s mother of Douglas Williams who was killed two weeks earlier.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Black Law Enforcement in Constant Danger of being of being Shot, Shot at, or Killed by White Law Enforcement
Even Black law enforcement professionals in plain clothes or off-duty are in danger when doing the job they have been sworn to do. New York has a history, dating back to the 1940s; Black officers in plain clothes or off-duty have been shot at, shot, or killed by their white counterparts and never in the reverse. The shooting of Police Officer Omar Edwards, Detective Christopher Ridley of Westchester, along with the incident last year involving NYPD Police Chief Ziegler-- the highest ranking black official in the NYPD, who had weapons drawn on him by white NYPD officers while he was parked in a NYPD unmarked car with NYPD badge and ID around his neck, reminds us of the challenges we face as citizens of color and for Black law enforcement officers.
Black law enforcement professionals must be extra cautious when they react to situations when they are off duty or as plain clothes officers. It is unfortunate that the only time we are truly recognized as law enforcement is when they wear the blue uniform. Until perceptions of Black males are changed in the institutional structure of policing, the Black law enforcement community and the Black community at large will remain at a disadvantage and in danger.
Who protects the Black Law Enforcement while we protect and serve our communities? Its time for state politicians and community leaders to finally have the testicular fortitude to address this ongoing issue with Revolutionary Change in policy and procedure in the culture of Law Enforcement.
The Westchester Chapter has advised all members to react with caution while off duty. Only draw weapon if there is a threat to your life. Call 911 and stand aside. The life you might save will be your own.
Damon K. Jones
Black law enforcement professionals must be extra cautious when they react to situations when they are off duty or as plain clothes officers. It is unfortunate that the only time we are truly recognized as law enforcement is when they wear the blue uniform. Until perceptions of Black males are changed in the institutional structure of policing, the Black law enforcement community and the Black community at large will remain at a disadvantage and in danger.
Who protects the Black Law Enforcement while we protect and serve our communities? Its time for state politicians and community leaders to finally have the testicular fortitude to address this ongoing issue with Revolutionary Change in policy and procedure in the culture of Law Enforcement.
The Westchester Chapter has advised all members to react with caution while off duty. Only draw weapon if there is a threat to your life. Call 911 and stand aside. The life you might save will be your own.
Damon K. Jones
Friday, May 22, 2009
Who Will Protect Law Enforcement in Westchester County ,While we Protect and Serve the People?
In the recent state of the county address by our County Executive Andy Spano he said, “No county is better positioned to meet the challenges ahead than Westchester.” One of the critical challenges that have not been met is the lack of respect and consideration given to hard working County Correction and Police Officers who have been working without a contract since 2006.
Westchester County Law Enforcement Professionals have been diligent in their duty to protect and serve its citizens. They have performed admirably while often under the strain of being wounded in the line of duty or having a partner killed or injured. There are Correction Officers who single-handedly supervise a housing area of 40-60 inmates, there are Officers exposed to deadly diseases like AIDS, Staph infections like MRSA and Hepatitis and inmates have assaulted Correction Officers physically and with bodily fluids. They offer us less and less in the form of heath benefits while we are exposed to more and more health dangers. With no contract in sight, the question remains: while we are protecting the public, who is protecting us?
The hard work of the Correction Officers has paved the way for the department to receive National Accreditation from the American Correction Association (ACA). This means that the Norwood E. Jackson Correctional Facility Correction Officers operate at the highest standards in the nation. What have we received for our hard work? Absolutely nothing! Hard working Correction Officers didn’t even receive an ACA National Accreditation patch! While our performance in high our moral is very low. So where is the respect from Westchester County? Either our Unions are sleeping with the enemy or there has been a loss of respect with unionized labor in regards to hard working Law Enforcement in Westchester County.
In Westchester, we have no one to protect us while we protect and serve. There seems to be no respect for officers that sacrifice their time away from their families and put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of Westchester County every day. Truly, this career chooses you. The mental, physical, and emotional stamina that is required to endure the life threatening challenges we face takes a unique individual. Now is the time for the County to stand up and let its actions speak louder than its words to the hard working Correction, Police officers and their families by committing to a fair and equitable contract that will continue to protect and serve those who sacrifice daily to protect and serve the citizens of Westchester County.
The National Black Police Association is a nationwide organization of African American Police Associations dedicated to the promotion of justice, fairness and effectiveness in Law Enforcement. The NBPA has several chartered organizations throughout the United States and associate members in Canada, Bermuda and the United Kingdom. The principal concerns of the NBPA center upon law enforcement issues and the effect of those issues upon the total community. The NBPA serves as an advocate for minority police officers and establishes a national network for the training and education of all police officers and others interested in Law Enforcement.
Damon K. Jones
Westchester County Law Enforcement Professionals have been diligent in their duty to protect and serve its citizens. They have performed admirably while often under the strain of being wounded in the line of duty or having a partner killed or injured. There are Correction Officers who single-handedly supervise a housing area of 40-60 inmates, there are Officers exposed to deadly diseases like AIDS, Staph infections like MRSA and Hepatitis and inmates have assaulted Correction Officers physically and with bodily fluids. They offer us less and less in the form of heath benefits while we are exposed to more and more health dangers. With no contract in sight, the question remains: while we are protecting the public, who is protecting us?
The hard work of the Correction Officers has paved the way for the department to receive National Accreditation from the American Correction Association (ACA). This means that the Norwood E. Jackson Correctional Facility Correction Officers operate at the highest standards in the nation. What have we received for our hard work? Absolutely nothing! Hard working Correction Officers didn’t even receive an ACA National Accreditation patch! While our performance in high our moral is very low. So where is the respect from Westchester County? Either our Unions are sleeping with the enemy or there has been a loss of respect with unionized labor in regards to hard working Law Enforcement in Westchester County.
In Westchester, we have no one to protect us while we protect and serve. There seems to be no respect for officers that sacrifice their time away from their families and put their lives on the line to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of Westchester County every day. Truly, this career chooses you. The mental, physical, and emotional stamina that is required to endure the life threatening challenges we face takes a unique individual. Now is the time for the County to stand up and let its actions speak louder than its words to the hard working Correction, Police officers and their families by committing to a fair and equitable contract that will continue to protect and serve those who sacrifice daily to protect and serve the citizens of Westchester County.
The National Black Police Association is a nationwide organization of African American Police Associations dedicated to the promotion of justice, fairness and effectiveness in Law Enforcement. The NBPA has several chartered organizations throughout the United States and associate members in Canada, Bermuda and the United Kingdom. The principal concerns of the NBPA center upon law enforcement issues and the effect of those issues upon the total community. The NBPA serves as an advocate for minority police officers and establishes a national network for the training and education of all police officers and others interested in Law Enforcement.
Damon K. Jones
The Need for a Special Prosecutor for Questionable Police Shootings and Police Criminality Cases
Any Law Enforcement Officer who has the power to arrest and use deadly force and hasreceived comprehensive training by certified institutions of Law Enforcement and goesinto a community and abuses the authority that they have been empowered with, is inessence, a criminal themselves.
In Westchester County from a realistic perspective, police officers are often times relatedby blood, marriage or a loyal bond of friendship. Whether they want to admit it or not,the District Attorney’s office and our local municipalities are presented with thechallenge of investigating an officer who is related.
The municipality has to investigatean officer who they consider ”one of their own” and the municipality has to also decidehow they can proceed with its investigation in a manner that will preserve its relationshipwith that police officer.Based upon the challenges that municipalities encounter, the only logical choice is torequest aid in the form of a Special Prosecutor or Federal Intervention. By requestingassistance, the municipality is placed in a difficult position of having to admit thatperhaps they are incapable of handling an investigation into “one of its own” orconfirming that there is a bias.
To remove this burden, there should be a call to action with state legislation that requiresoversight. The legislation must require in the event of an investigation into policemisconduct or criminality, local authorities must contact state authorities. The legislationmust create a Statewide Independent Investigative body that will investigate any incidentfrom the onset of the collecting of evidence and the interviewing of witnesses, which aretwo of the most critical pieces of an investigation. Resources must be provided tomunicipalities to meet these standards and expectations required by the legislation.
Implementing a Statewide Independent Investigative Unit will eliminate the perception ofinjustice within the law enforcement ranks and ensure that both the officers and thealleged victims receive a fair and impartial thorough investigation, which will uncoverthe truth based on the evidence, which may resolve so many unanswered questions whilecontinuously building trust between law enforcement and the community. There havebeen too many incidents involving law enforcement with too many questions and notenough answers. We are calling for more transparency within the system to protect bothour law enforcement officers and the citizens in the community in which they serve.
In Westchester County from a realistic perspective, police officers are often times relatedby blood, marriage or a loyal bond of friendship. Whether they want to admit it or not,the District Attorney’s office and our local municipalities are presented with thechallenge of investigating an officer who is related.
The municipality has to investigatean officer who they consider ”one of their own” and the municipality has to also decidehow they can proceed with its investigation in a manner that will preserve its relationshipwith that police officer.Based upon the challenges that municipalities encounter, the only logical choice is torequest aid in the form of a Special Prosecutor or Federal Intervention. By requestingassistance, the municipality is placed in a difficult position of having to admit thatperhaps they are incapable of handling an investigation into “one of its own” orconfirming that there is a bias.
To remove this burden, there should be a call to action with state legislation that requiresoversight. The legislation must require in the event of an investigation into policemisconduct or criminality, local authorities must contact state authorities. The legislationmust create a Statewide Independent Investigative body that will investigate any incidentfrom the onset of the collecting of evidence and the interviewing of witnesses, which aretwo of the most critical pieces of an investigation. Resources must be provided tomunicipalities to meet these standards and expectations required by the legislation.
Implementing a Statewide Independent Investigative Unit will eliminate the perception ofinjustice within the law enforcement ranks and ensure that both the officers and thealleged victims receive a fair and impartial thorough investigation, which will uncoverthe truth based on the evidence, which may resolve so many unanswered questions whilecontinuously building trust between law enforcement and the community. There havebeen too many incidents involving law enforcement with too many questions and notenough answers. We are calling for more transparency within the system to protect bothour law enforcement officers and the citizens in the community in which they serve.
The Disconnection of Westchester County Goverment with its People
April 2, 2009
There is hypocrisy in Westchester politics. Why did the County Executive and Legislators push a shotspotter system that is neither preventative nor a true quality of life investment for the residents of Mt. Vernon and Yonkers while residents of Ardsley received monies for school improvement, road maintenance and wireless systems for their schools?
As citizens, we must ask if Mt. Vernon and Yonkers whose high schools are averaging a 60 percent graduation rate (according to publicschoolreview.com) and the majority of the gun violence are perpetrated by 16-22 years old who have either dropped out of school, can't find a means to make a living and turn to guns, gangs and violence for means of survival. Why our legislators and County Executive did not see a greater need to invest in our youth and in our community? What about something very simple; Create jobs with the 3 million dollars. Not to mention it will cost another 300 thousand dollars to maintain and operate this system. Yet, Mt. Vernon’s operating techniques are ancient. Officers lack the proper equipment in squad cars such as computers to run license plates or I.D checks and working car-cams. Just small investment in the officers will help them do their work more proficiently, effectively and safe.
Our County Executive and Legislators are disconnected. How does Shotspotter invest in our community, our people, and our children? Does this really make the citizens of Mt. Vernon and Yonkers feel safer and more secure?
If the community leaders and politicians were really connected to the community they would know that it is easier for a child to get a gun on the streets of Southern Westchester than a job since no politician is really serious about creating jobs in Southern Westchester. The tax payers are force to take Shotspotter.
The community meeting at Grace Baptist Church on Tuesday, March 31, Mt Vernon Police Chief Duncan mentioned implementing Operation Protect. The National Black Police Association is familiar with this program. As a national organization we offer all of our assistance and resources to make it effective, but it will take many community components such as: social work, education, proper outreach, and job placement to make this program truly effective.
If community and political leaders truly want change they should demand that their tax payer dollars are better spent on preventive measures such as Operation Protect that Mt. Vernon Police Chief Duncan has spoken of to provide a more effective tools to reducing crime as opposed to a haphazard device that sounds good but does not create a long lasting solution to the prevention or reduction of crime in our neighborhoods.
There is hypocrisy in Westchester politics. Why did the County Executive and Legislators push a shotspotter system that is neither preventative nor a true quality of life investment for the residents of Mt. Vernon and Yonkers while residents of Ardsley received monies for school improvement, road maintenance and wireless systems for their schools?
As citizens, we must ask if Mt. Vernon and Yonkers whose high schools are averaging a 60 percent graduation rate (according to publicschoolreview.com) and the majority of the gun violence are perpetrated by 16-22 years old who have either dropped out of school, can't find a means to make a living and turn to guns, gangs and violence for means of survival. Why our legislators and County Executive did not see a greater need to invest in our youth and in our community? What about something very simple; Create jobs with the 3 million dollars. Not to mention it will cost another 300 thousand dollars to maintain and operate this system. Yet, Mt. Vernon’s operating techniques are ancient. Officers lack the proper equipment in squad cars such as computers to run license plates or I.D checks and working car-cams. Just small investment in the officers will help them do their work more proficiently, effectively and safe.
Our County Executive and Legislators are disconnected. How does Shotspotter invest in our community, our people, and our children? Does this really make the citizens of Mt. Vernon and Yonkers feel safer and more secure?
If the community leaders and politicians were really connected to the community they would know that it is easier for a child to get a gun on the streets of Southern Westchester than a job since no politician is really serious about creating jobs in Southern Westchester. The tax payers are force to take Shotspotter.
The community meeting at Grace Baptist Church on Tuesday, March 31, Mt Vernon Police Chief Duncan mentioned implementing Operation Protect. The National Black Police Association is familiar with this program. As a national organization we offer all of our assistance and resources to make it effective, but it will take many community components such as: social work, education, proper outreach, and job placement to make this program truly effective.
If community and political leaders truly want change they should demand that their tax payer dollars are better spent on preventive measures such as Operation Protect that Mt. Vernon Police Chief Duncan has spoken of to provide a more effective tools to reducing crime as opposed to a haphazard device that sounds good but does not create a long lasting solution to the prevention or reduction of crime in our neighborhoods.
Paying our last Respect to a "TrailBlazer" in Westchester Law Enforcement, Warden Yvonne Powell
March 30, 2009
We the Officers and Members of the Westchester, New York Chapter of the National Black Police Association are offering this Resolution and paying the last measure of our love and respect to Warden Yvonne Powell and her family.
Today we say farewell to a pioneer in Law Enforcement for Westchester County. Warden Yvonne Powell was more than a supervisor; she was a mother, a friend, a supporter, and fighter for woman’s rights. We learned from her strength and her sacrifices. For African Americans, she set the standards for Black woman in Law Enforcement.
Ms. Powell was a former President of the Westchester Rockland Guardians Association and Secretary and Treasurer of the North East Region of the National Black Police AssociationMs. Powell graduated from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, where she majored in criminal justice. After passing three Civil Service examinations, however, she took a job instead as a meter maid in White Plains. Growing bored with that, she moved to a position as a Deputy Sheriff at the County Jail in 1967.
Ms. Powell advanced through Civil Service examinations and evaluations to positions as a Corrections Officer, Sergeant and Captain before being made an Assistant Warden. The climb was not easy. After receiving one of the top scores in the Civil Service test for captain, she was denied the position.Ms. Powell filed a sex-discrimination case with the State Division of Human Rights and won and was prepared to fight for her promotion during the county's appeal of the case. But County Executive Andrew P. O'Rourke took office, and after reviewing the case, he decided she deserved the promotion.
While she was a warden, Ms. Powell began many programs at the County Jail that received wide recognition. The Board of Educational Cooperative Services began certification programs in nail care, building maintenance and child care, enabling many women to find jobs after their release. She also began a program allowing inmates who gave birth in jail to keep their babies with them instead of placing them in foster care.
After retirement Ms. Powell worked as a coordinator of the Abbott House Mentoring Program. Ms Powell received the Westchester County Women’s Hall of Fame Award in 1995.We extend to her family our heartfelt sympathy and prayers in the loss of their loved one. May all of you find comfort and strength in your faith in God and may you accept the belief that God makes no mistakes.
As an organization, we are your brothers and sisters. We are always on call whenever you need our assistance.
We the Officers and Members of the Westchester, New York Chapter of the National Black Police Association are offering this Resolution and paying the last measure of our love and respect to Warden Yvonne Powell and her family.
Today we say farewell to a pioneer in Law Enforcement for Westchester County. Warden Yvonne Powell was more than a supervisor; she was a mother, a friend, a supporter, and fighter for woman’s rights. We learned from her strength and her sacrifices. For African Americans, she set the standards for Black woman in Law Enforcement.
Ms. Powell was a former President of the Westchester Rockland Guardians Association and Secretary and Treasurer of the North East Region of the National Black Police AssociationMs. Powell graduated from Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, where she majored in criminal justice. After passing three Civil Service examinations, however, she took a job instead as a meter maid in White Plains. Growing bored with that, she moved to a position as a Deputy Sheriff at the County Jail in 1967.
Ms. Powell advanced through Civil Service examinations and evaluations to positions as a Corrections Officer, Sergeant and Captain before being made an Assistant Warden. The climb was not easy. After receiving one of the top scores in the Civil Service test for captain, she was denied the position.Ms. Powell filed a sex-discrimination case with the State Division of Human Rights and won and was prepared to fight for her promotion during the county's appeal of the case. But County Executive Andrew P. O'Rourke took office, and after reviewing the case, he decided she deserved the promotion.
While she was a warden, Ms. Powell began many programs at the County Jail that received wide recognition. The Board of Educational Cooperative Services began certification programs in nail care, building maintenance and child care, enabling many women to find jobs after their release. She also began a program allowing inmates who gave birth in jail to keep their babies with them instead of placing them in foster care.
After retirement Ms. Powell worked as a coordinator of the Abbott House Mentoring Program. Ms Powell received the Westchester County Women’s Hall of Fame Award in 1995.We extend to her family our heartfelt sympathy and prayers in the loss of their loved one. May all of you find comfort and strength in your faith in God and may you accept the belief that God makes no mistakes.
As an organization, we are your brothers and sisters. We are always on call whenever you need our assistance.
Oakland's Civil War-the People vs the Police-How Will We Come to grips with a Troubled Relationship?
By now everyone is aware of the what went down in Oakland, Ca this weekend where 4 officers were gunned down by a parolee named Lovell Mixon. Not sure what to make of all this..meaning how and why did this happen. What I do know is that here in Austin, Texas wat the SxSW Music festival when word came out about the shootings people from Philly to LA expressed feelings that suggested that some sort of justice was served. That was reflected in the loud cheers that were heard at two separate shows when it was announced what happened.Some may find it shocking, appalling, outrageous etc.. Others found it as understandable and even satisfactory.. In both instances the crowds were mixed racially and age wise. Why such a reaction when those who are charged with protecting and serving are gunned down? Why would people cheer for death? The answer may lie in the type of perceptions and actual day to day increasing amounts of people have with the police…For many it was hard to separate yesterday’s killings from the image of an unarmed Oscar Grant being shot by a rogue cop. The image is still ingrained in folks minds.
Here in Austin folks still can’t separate the thoughts of unarmed Daniel Rocha, Kevin Brown, Jesse Lee Owens and Sophie King being gunned down by police. The community was outraged here when these killings happened. Folks from Philly started naming off names of people killed in their city. Same with folks from Chicago. The New Yorkers talked about Sean Bell and Amadu Diallo and noted that they saw those vicious shootings play out in trials that left all the officers acquitted. Two unarmed men 91 shots and no convictions. It’s left many people feeling hopeless and cynical-Justice will not come from the courts.
We spoke with community activist and rap artist Truth Universal of New Orleans who still has the image of Adolph Grimes being gunned down in a hail of 12 bullets the same night Oscar Grant was killed. He stated that for many he can see how they would think that justice was served. He said its a case of chickens coming home to roost and that the reason why so many people may have appeared gleeful is that the police have for so long looked at various communities as less than human. Eventually the people on the receiving end would see the police in the same light. It’s no coincident that people from coast to coast all have the same distaste and distrust.Yes, some will stop, take a moment and reflect and realize that the officers slain are sons, fathers, husbands and brothers and deserve a prayer. But the mood quickly changes when folks recall the day to day confrontations friends and family have had with the police. Many rationalize that the police have not shown any remorse for the thousand of people victimized by folks on the force. Were their flowers or cards of condolences sent to the families of Oscar Grant? Amadu Diallo? Sean Bell? etc?
When we spoke with Mistah Fab he noted how he raised similar questions around Oscar Grant to Oakland police officers who told him there was a lot of politics, so they had to keep quiet. He found the answer unacceptable. He noted that sort of behavior 1-Is what they tell the people in Oakland not to do..They want residents who feel unsafe to blow the whistle on wrong doings, but they as cops won’t do the same. He also noted that it shows how far apart many are from the community they serve.. How could one not speak when they see something so blatantly wrong? KC Carter a former ACLU lawyer who heads up the organization Hip Hop Against Police Brutality here in Austin, notes that for many its not the Oscar Grants and Annete Garcias (unarmed mother of 3 shot by police in Riverside this year). Those are the ultimate manifestations of police brutality. He said its the day to day humiliations and brutality that people endure-much of which goes unreported. It might having to sit still and grit your teeth while an officer speaks rudely while issuing a citation. It might be someone having to endure an elder parent or grand parent get a verbal lashing from a cop who is bent on showing no respect to you and your people. It’s the thousands of folks who get tasered, pushed, punched and intimidated by police who work from a stand point of establishing fear to maintain control.
I recall doing a radio show earlier this year in Los Angeles at the beginning of the Oscar Grant situation. During the show some ‘soon to be’ cop called in and said if any suspect gave him lip or insulted him he would take them out. Me and host Dominique Diprima were dumb-founded. Here’s a guy claiming to be in the academy and this is how he’s viewing the world? How many other cops are thinking this way?Lucky for us during the show another officer called in and said that what he heard was unacceptable and said in no uncertain terms should a police officer behave in that manner. That was a good thing. The concern is that dude is still in the academy. How will he get weeded out? Sadly for many we don’t see officers standing up on the side of the citizens who feel they were unjustifiably brutalized. We don’t see those good cops, those hard working cops coming out and denouncing rogue and criminal behavior. As word seaped out about the 4 police sergents being shot in Oakland, while some expressed glee other expressed concern that the police would be retaliating. They said the block would be hot and everybody would be subjected to a police force bent on seeking revenge.KC Carter noted that it will be important for the police to re-establish their position where fear is a main component. In fact, he noted this shooting may have harsh effects all across the country, because police in Texas, police in New York, police in Oakland and everywhere in between do not want people in communities they patrol to get in their heads its ok to shoot cops with no push back. He said expect to state to push back in Black and Brown communities where folks are likely to not be so sympathetic to these officers being gunned down in Oakland.West Oakland artist Jern-Eye of the group Lunar Heights cautioned folks to not see the slaying of these officers of some sort of victory. He recounted the types of challenges West Oakland residents went through last time an officer was killed. He stated that everyone caught hell. He added that it would be important for the community to use this tragedy to come together and rise above the fray. he said it was important for us to build up the community and make it a safe productive place for the youth. A tit foir tat battle with the police will not be constructive in the long run.Lastly ain closing a few things to keep in mind.
First, none of the officers slain lived in Oakland. They all live in the suburbs miles away from Oakland. This has long been a concern. Folks from outside the city they patrol come in and don’t show the type of respect one feels is deserved. Many feel they don’t truly understand the people. Not sure if this was the case with the officers who were slain. They were all veterans on the police force and one would hope they saw and cherished the community they served.
The author of the article is Mistah FAB from the Breakdown radio show
Here in Austin folks still can’t separate the thoughts of unarmed Daniel Rocha, Kevin Brown, Jesse Lee Owens and Sophie King being gunned down by police. The community was outraged here when these killings happened. Folks from Philly started naming off names of people killed in their city. Same with folks from Chicago. The New Yorkers talked about Sean Bell and Amadu Diallo and noted that they saw those vicious shootings play out in trials that left all the officers acquitted. Two unarmed men 91 shots and no convictions. It’s left many people feeling hopeless and cynical-Justice will not come from the courts.
We spoke with community activist and rap artist Truth Universal of New Orleans who still has the image of Adolph Grimes being gunned down in a hail of 12 bullets the same night Oscar Grant was killed. He stated that for many he can see how they would think that justice was served. He said its a case of chickens coming home to roost and that the reason why so many people may have appeared gleeful is that the police have for so long looked at various communities as less than human. Eventually the people on the receiving end would see the police in the same light. It’s no coincident that people from coast to coast all have the same distaste and distrust.Yes, some will stop, take a moment and reflect and realize that the officers slain are sons, fathers, husbands and brothers and deserve a prayer. But the mood quickly changes when folks recall the day to day confrontations friends and family have had with the police. Many rationalize that the police have not shown any remorse for the thousand of people victimized by folks on the force. Were their flowers or cards of condolences sent to the families of Oscar Grant? Amadu Diallo? Sean Bell? etc?
When we spoke with Mistah Fab he noted how he raised similar questions around Oscar Grant to Oakland police officers who told him there was a lot of politics, so they had to keep quiet. He found the answer unacceptable. He noted that sort of behavior 1-Is what they tell the people in Oakland not to do..They want residents who feel unsafe to blow the whistle on wrong doings, but they as cops won’t do the same. He also noted that it shows how far apart many are from the community they serve.. How could one not speak when they see something so blatantly wrong? KC Carter a former ACLU lawyer who heads up the organization Hip Hop Against Police Brutality here in Austin, notes that for many its not the Oscar Grants and Annete Garcias (unarmed mother of 3 shot by police in Riverside this year). Those are the ultimate manifestations of police brutality. He said its the day to day humiliations and brutality that people endure-much of which goes unreported. It might having to sit still and grit your teeth while an officer speaks rudely while issuing a citation. It might be someone having to endure an elder parent or grand parent get a verbal lashing from a cop who is bent on showing no respect to you and your people. It’s the thousands of folks who get tasered, pushed, punched and intimidated by police who work from a stand point of establishing fear to maintain control.
I recall doing a radio show earlier this year in Los Angeles at the beginning of the Oscar Grant situation. During the show some ‘soon to be’ cop called in and said if any suspect gave him lip or insulted him he would take them out. Me and host Dominique Diprima were dumb-founded. Here’s a guy claiming to be in the academy and this is how he’s viewing the world? How many other cops are thinking this way?Lucky for us during the show another officer called in and said that what he heard was unacceptable and said in no uncertain terms should a police officer behave in that manner. That was a good thing. The concern is that dude is still in the academy. How will he get weeded out? Sadly for many we don’t see officers standing up on the side of the citizens who feel they were unjustifiably brutalized. We don’t see those good cops, those hard working cops coming out and denouncing rogue and criminal behavior. As word seaped out about the 4 police sergents being shot in Oakland, while some expressed glee other expressed concern that the police would be retaliating. They said the block would be hot and everybody would be subjected to a police force bent on seeking revenge.KC Carter noted that it will be important for the police to re-establish their position where fear is a main component. In fact, he noted this shooting may have harsh effects all across the country, because police in Texas, police in New York, police in Oakland and everywhere in between do not want people in communities they patrol to get in their heads its ok to shoot cops with no push back. He said expect to state to push back in Black and Brown communities where folks are likely to not be so sympathetic to these officers being gunned down in Oakland.West Oakland artist Jern-Eye of the group Lunar Heights cautioned folks to not see the slaying of these officers of some sort of victory. He recounted the types of challenges West Oakland residents went through last time an officer was killed. He stated that everyone caught hell. He added that it would be important for the community to use this tragedy to come together and rise above the fray. he said it was important for us to build up the community and make it a safe productive place for the youth. A tit foir tat battle with the police will not be constructive in the long run.Lastly ain closing a few things to keep in mind.
First, none of the officers slain lived in Oakland. They all live in the suburbs miles away from Oakland. This has long been a concern. Folks from outside the city they patrol come in and don’t show the type of respect one feels is deserved. Many feel they don’t truly understand the people. Not sure if this was the case with the officers who were slain. They were all veterans on the police force and one would hope they saw and cherished the community they served.
The author of the article is Mistah FAB from the Breakdown radio show
Do Prosecutors Purposefully Throw Cases Against Cops
In face of the Oakland transit shooting case we are left to ponder whether there will be a vigorous prosecution on the part of the District Attorney. Whereas it only took 6 days for the DA to charge those who destroyed property during the protest of the shooting; Alameda County district attorney Tom Orloff took a week and a half to charge the murder despite clear video evidence. He did so only then due to the uproar, and with no way to defend the shooting. It has been suggested before that prosecutors don't really want to prosecute police officers. But when officers actions are so outrages, that they can't defend the officers even with giving them all benefit of the doubt, they charge them only because they can't defend not charging. Yet, since these DAs actually don't want to try the officer in the first place, and they only do so because they can't defend not doing so, that they intentionally throw the case.
The National Black Police Association even says this takes place. Christopher C. Cooper, JD on behalf of The National Black Police Association writes “It does not matter that two of the officers who killed Sean Bell are black. The larger issue is that police officers of any color, in jurisdictions throughout the United States are given a blank check to abuse people of color. Prosecutors routinely look the other way and if they prosecute, they throw the fight (a real possibility of what happened in the Bell case). ”
Ann Schneider at The Indypendent breaks down some of how this went in the Bell trial. In a piece entitled “Going Through the Motions: Prosecutor’s Strategy Doomed Bell Verdict” she writes:
I entered Judge Arthur Cooperman’s courtroom one afternoon, mid-trial. From the information being elicited, I guessed it was the defense lawyer questioning the witness. But it was the prosecuting attorney, establishing that the officers had heard of as many as three guns inside Club Kalua that night. Thus, Assistant District Attorney Charles Testagrossa, who was supposed to be prosecuting the three officers, established a justification defense for them!
Worse, the prosecution chose to introduce the grand jury testimony of each officer. This was a serious strategic mistake, because it allowed the defendants to remain silent. Since it is the prosecution’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a defendant always has the choice to testify or not. In a criminal case, a judge may not draw “a negative inference” from the fact that a defendant chooses not to testify.
We know that the police planned to offer as a defense that they were justified in believing that their lives were in danger. So to convince a judge or jury they had a reasonable belief they were being fired upon, they normally would have had to say something about their state of mind.
Thus, they would have been subject to cross-examination, which could have yielded some interesting revelations. Instead, the prosecution chose to introduce their previous testimony at the grand jury, lessening their need to speak in their own defense.Proof that this was a disastrous choice is the fact that the defense team’s strategy changed six weeks into the trial. After the prosecution rested, the police defendants decided that they no longer needed to testify.Again, this is what happens when they bother to prosecute.
A report coming out in the L.A. Times a few years ago showed that L.A. County refused to prosecute 75% of police misconduct cases referred to them, where on the other hand they prosecuted 75% of all other cases referred to them. In Oakland we're dealing with the same governmental system that allows the Oakland police to basically refuse to provide information on the outcomes of cases even to the City Council
The National Black Police Association even says this takes place. Christopher C. Cooper, JD on behalf of The National Black Police Association writes “It does not matter that two of the officers who killed Sean Bell are black. The larger issue is that police officers of any color, in jurisdictions throughout the United States are given a blank check to abuse people of color. Prosecutors routinely look the other way and if they prosecute, they throw the fight (a real possibility of what happened in the Bell case). ”
Ann Schneider at The Indypendent breaks down some of how this went in the Bell trial. In a piece entitled “Going Through the Motions: Prosecutor’s Strategy Doomed Bell Verdict” she writes:
I entered Judge Arthur Cooperman’s courtroom one afternoon, mid-trial. From the information being elicited, I guessed it was the defense lawyer questioning the witness. But it was the prosecuting attorney, establishing that the officers had heard of as many as three guns inside Club Kalua that night. Thus, Assistant District Attorney Charles Testagrossa, who was supposed to be prosecuting the three officers, established a justification defense for them!
Worse, the prosecution chose to introduce the grand jury testimony of each officer. This was a serious strategic mistake, because it allowed the defendants to remain silent. Since it is the prosecution’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, a defendant always has the choice to testify or not. In a criminal case, a judge may not draw “a negative inference” from the fact that a defendant chooses not to testify.
We know that the police planned to offer as a defense that they were justified in believing that their lives were in danger. So to convince a judge or jury they had a reasonable belief they were being fired upon, they normally would have had to say something about their state of mind.
Thus, they would have been subject to cross-examination, which could have yielded some interesting revelations. Instead, the prosecution chose to introduce their previous testimony at the grand jury, lessening their need to speak in their own defense.Proof that this was a disastrous choice is the fact that the defense team’s strategy changed six weeks into the trial. After the prosecution rested, the police defendants decided that they no longer needed to testify.Again, this is what happens when they bother to prosecute.
A report coming out in the L.A. Times a few years ago showed that L.A. County refused to prosecute 75% of police misconduct cases referred to them, where on the other hand they prosecuted 75% of all other cases referred to them. In Oakland we're dealing with the same governmental system that allows the Oakland police to basically refuse to provide information on the outcomes of cases even to the City Council
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