WABC TV Reports On Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Brutality Allegations - New RIOC President Charlene Indelicato Says She Is Moving Quickly To Assess Situation And Will Properly Address It As Soon As Possible

WABC TV reported today on the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department brutality allegations made by some residents of our community. According to WABC TV:

Some young, minority males living on Roosevelt Island say they're being targeted for doing nothing wrong by the very people who are supposed to protect them....

and:

... In an attempt to find out more about the 37 Peace Officers who patrol the Island, we filed a Freedom of Information request for disciplinary records. The documents reveal that many of them have been suspended repeatedly. Ten of them have more than 7 suspensions each. Suspended for "sleeping on duty," "excessive lateness," "tampering with evidence," and "illegal or unethical behavior." Two of the officers have more than 20 suspensions. Yet none has been fired....

Click here for the entire WABC story.

Newly appointed Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato issued the following statement this afternoon:

I am very aware of residents’ complaints regarding the Public Safety Department and take these issues very seriously. Addressing residents’ concerns is my top priority. We have an ongoing AG investigation and have hired our own consultants to investigate operations at PSD. In my eight days at RIOC, I have initiated a top-to-bottom review, started to meet with residents and local groups to discuss PSD, and have instructed the consultants to fast-track their investigation. I am moving quickly to assess the situation and will properly address it as soon as possible.

More on RIOC's response to the brutality allegations including previous statements from Board Directors as well as information on the Public Safety Audit, Inspector General's Report and body cameras for Public Safety Officers available at previous posts. The initial report of the Anthony Jones brutality allegation is here and only public statement (from February 15) of Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra here.