New Gunshot Technology- A long shot for Law Enforcement for Westchester County

As citizens we can’t fall for the political smoke screens when it comes to the safety of our communities. For the County Executive, the Commissioners to think this gunshot detection technology will actually prevent crime, they are betting on a long shot themselves.

According to the National Institute of Justice, Police response times to technology-generated reports of gunfire were compared to response times to citizen generated reports both before and during the test period. For the most part, there was little difference between response times to technology-generated reports of gunfire during the test period and response times to citizen-generated reports before the test period. However, the mean response time to citizen-generated reports of gunfire during the test period (about 30minutes) was about 30 percent less than the mean response time to technology-generated reports (about45 minutes). Nonetheless, the overall mean response time during the test period (to the technology- and citizen-generated reports combined) was about 41minutes, just 2 minutes longer than the mean response time before the test period (to citizen-generated reports only). Researchers concluded that using the technology did not change in any substantial way the speed with which the police responded to reports of gunfire.

Key findings: The study of the use of gunshot detection technology in local law enforcement led the research team to four broad conclusions:

Gunshot detection systems are likely to reveal rather high citizen under-reporting rates of random gunfire problems (23 percent of incidents are reported).

The technology is likely to increase the workloads of police officers, particularly if departments dispatch a patrol unit to every gunfire incident detected by a technological system.

Gunshot detection systems are not likely to lead to more arrests of people firing weapons in urban settings because it is highly unlikely that offenders will stay at a gunshot location long enough for the police to arrive.

Finally, gunshot detection systems seem to offer the most potential as a problem-solving tool and would fit nicely within the emerging problem-oriented policing paradigm. The technology can help police identify random gunfire hot spots and develop strategies to address the problem.

Finally, if the police department may not have a rapid response policy or the resources to implement such a policy. Second, if the tool is inaccurate, police resources may be wasted by dispatching units to false alarms. Third, a police department that is committed to community policing may prefer to focus its resources on preventive measures, rather than on rapid response measures. Regardless of the amount of tax payer’s money they spend for gadgets and toys. Nothing is better than good old fashion community policing, something that has not been implemented in Yonkers or Mt. Vernon. Three Million can go along way. Maybe they should start by fixing the car- cams in Mt. Vernon’s fleet of cars and install car-cams in Yonkers fleet, along with requiring Yonkers PD to wear name tags, put more Police Officers on the street and truly invest in Community Policing. That is where the tax payer’s money is truly needed and would be well spent.

The Disconnection of Westchester County Government with its People

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.

In Unity and Peace

Damon K. Jones

Independent Civilian Complaint Review Board the only way for true Transparency and Accountability between the Community and Law Enforcement

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

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!

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

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

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