Town committee will review police policies, procedures

Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton has empaneled a committee to review the town police department’s policies, practices and procedures as per a June executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The first meeting of this committee will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The public will be able to view the meeting livestream on the town’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/291318460978411/live/

Cuomo directed any municipality with a police department to perform a comprehensive review of their policies and procedures and to develop a plan to improve upon them, if warranted. Cuomo specifically tasked municipalities to “improve deployments, strategies, policies, procedures and practices for the purpose of addressing needs of the communities served and to promote community engagement to foster trust, fairness and legitimacy, and to address any racial bias and disproportionate policy of communities of color.”

Being reviewed are the use of force policy, procedural justice, community outreach, violence prevention and focused deterrence, among other policies and procedures.

The governor’s order states that the town must consult with stakeholders, including the police, district attorney, local elected officials and members of the community.

“I have empaneled a cross section of our community to undertake this review,” Sweeton said.

The panel consists of 10 citizens as well as Warwick Police Chief Thomas McGovern, Lt. John Rader, Orange County District Attorney senior staff Stewart A. Rosenwasser, Village of Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard and Sweeton. The 10 citizens are Shawnee Moore, Grace Community Church pastor Brandon Collins, Angel Maysonet, George Schick, UAME Church pastor Rev. Dr. Ann Marie Bentsi-Addison Posey, Warwick Superintendent of Schools Dr. David Leach, Warwick Chamber of Commerce president Jim Mezzetti, Ron Martinez, Lew Perry and Village of Warwick trustee George McManus.

Anyone who would like to submit questions or comments to the committee may do so by emailing msweeton@townofwarwick.org. They must be received by Monday.

Questions may also be mailed to the supervisor’s office, 132 Kings Highway, Warwick NY 10990 or emailed for the second committee meeting, which will be held in November.