The Village of Malone, like many municipalities across the state, has been tasked by the Cuomo administration to reform its police department.The plan, submitted for public feedback, is now causing concern. Some people are citing the lack of diversity on the committee.Nicole Hylton-Patterson, the director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, explained her viewpoint on the issue. “So, how then can you have a committee to review, re-inform, and reinvent policing, when you’re not also putting the bodies that are at risk at the table to talk about what that should look like?”Hylton-Patterson says there’s troubling language in the reform plan, like it saying there’s very few people of color who live in the village. “They say nothing, nothing, nothing at all, about the history of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) folks living in Malone because they haven’t reached and asked any questions. They haven’t done the intentional work to reach out.”Malone police Chief, Christopher Premo, said this reform does not represent his department. “I was embarrassed. Like I say, I already had a meeting this morning. The report that’s submitted to the state will be done the proper way.”Premo went on to say his department didn’t have a big role in putting together the seven recommendations to the state, but he wants people to know the department been reforming throughout the years.“We’ve had body cameras for ten years now,” said Premo. “A lot of agencies don’t even have body cameras now and they’re working on getting them. We’ve had those. So, we’ve already been doing some things to address these issues to hold officers accountable for their actions.”Premo also said he plans to be active in the reform process going forward and promised changes will be made. In a public hearing Monday night, numerous people chimed in both virtually and in-person to voice their displeasure with the plan.Precious Cain, a concerned resident, expressed her concerns via Zoom at the meeting.“I cannot tell you how appalled I am that we would submit or even consider submitting a report that refers to the African American community as ‘transients,’ when they acknowledge our presence. So, it is no small wonder that people do not feel comfortable coming forward.”The final police reform plan is due to the state by April 1.
The Village of Malone, like many municipalities across the state, has been tasked by the Cuomo administration to reform its police department.
The plan, submitted for public feedback, is now causing concern. Some people are citing the lack of diversity on the committee.
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Nicole Hylton-Patterson, the director of the Adirondack Diversity Initiative, explained her viewpoint on the issue.
“So, how then can you have a committee to review, re-inform, and reinvent policing, when you’re not also putting the bodies that are at risk at the table to talk about what that should look like?”
Hylton-Patterson says there’s troubling language in the reform plan, like it saying there’s very few people of color who live in the village.
“They say nothing, nothing, nothing at all, about the history of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) folks living in Malone because they haven’t reached and asked any questions. They haven’t done the intentional work to reach out.”
Malone police Chief, Christopher Premo, said this reform does not represent his department.
“I was embarrassed. Like I say, I already had a meeting this morning. The report that’s submitted to the state will be done the proper way.”
Premo went on to say his department didn’t have a big role in putting together the seven recommendations to the state, but he wants people to know the department been reforming throughout the years.
“We’ve had body cameras for ten years now,” said Premo. “A lot of agencies don’t even have body cameras now and they’re working on getting them. We’ve had those. So, we’ve already been doing some things to address these issues to hold officers accountable for their actions.”
Premo also said he plans to be active in the reform process going forward and promised changes will be made.
In a public hearing Monday night, numerous people chimed in both virtually and in-person to voice their displeasure with the plan.
Precious Cain, a concerned resident, expressed her concerns via Zoom at the meeting.
“I cannot tell you how appalled I am that we would submit or even consider submitting a report that refers to the African American community as ‘transients,’ when they acknowledge our presence. So, it is no small wonder that people do not feel comfortable coming forward.”
The final police reform plan is due to the state by April 1.
