STORY SLUG: SUFFOLK COUNTY POLICE PROPOSAL
HOST INTRO: Amid the nationwide protests for police reform in the aftermath of the police killing of George Floyd, activists have pushed for major changes in how we manage resources to help people in our communities. With evidence of police brutality all across social media, more and more people are demanding change. Derek Gutierrez is an activist for police reform in Suffolk County, Long Island. Reporter Steven Hall spoke to him about what possible steps the county can take, and what he is doing to push for legislation.
AMBI: Voicemail
Track: He hopes that his proposal will receive some traction. The basic structure of the board will consist of 3 parts.
AMBI: Writing on paper.
TRACK: A representative from the State Government, such as a legislator. 2 representatives from the Police Department, elected by a majority of Officers, and residents, who will be free to attend hearings of the board in order to directly engage in discussion.
ACT: With this police board initiative, wanted to model off the board of education. There’s the heads of education, there’s the people of the district, some of the state, but the majority comes from the citizens. There’s a select few that voluntarily run for election without any compensation, each meeting holds an audience, an audience of those within the jurisdiction of the school district. So I wanted to model that off and replicate it in a police board initiative, in which citizens have more power in their neighborhoods.
TRACK: Suffolk County is expected to see a deficit of $1.5 billion through 2022 due to the pandemic, so funding the board may be complicated.
ACT: I would fight for more funding from the state, but our argument is that NY is going into debt, we lose billions every year, what I do not like is NY state funding billions into the federal government, in which it’s just going to be used for other states that do not fund, because we have one of the better economies, but the from what I see the goal of that isn’t met with reality.
TRACK: Governor Andrew Cuomo recently pushed a similar action with executive order no.203 which pushes “
AMBI: Cuomo at a press conference.
TRACK: Gutierrez thinks his plan is better.
ACT: It’s better because it involves citizens. No one knows the streets better than the people who live on them. Although we elect officials, I believe they are on the same level as us on what goes on in the neighborhood.
TRACK: As of recording Gutierrez is continuing talks with the Office of Public Safety in the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
For Baruch College, I’m Steven Hall in Suffolk County, NY.