Roosevelt Island NYC Council Candidates Ben Kallos And Assembly Member Micah Kellner Exchange Views On Civilian Complaint Review Board Legislation

Ben Kallos is running to succeed Jessica Lappin as New York City Council Member for Manhattan's 5th District which includes Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side. Last week, Mr Kallos sent the following letter to Roosevelt Island's Assembly Member Micah Kellner who is also running for the same NYC Council Seat.

From Mr. Kallos dated March 28,2012

I am writing on behalf of the residents of Roosevelt Island to suggest changes to legislation you authored, New York State Assembly Bill Number A.956 to create the New York State Civilian Complaint Review Board to investigate alleged misconduct by police and peace officers that you originally introduced as A.10618 on April 12, 2010.

I need not explain to you the importance of this bill you are sponsoring on behalf of our community. It is disappointing that our government has not responded to residents’ consistent complaints regarding the conduct of the Public Safety Department and that our campaign may have been the first to bring these larger issues before the New York State Inspector General for their investigation. These alleged abuses have continued for the past three years, while the only legislation to address them has sat in committee with no other action taken.

I am inspired by the residents of Roosevelt Island who have personally stood up against abuse and have rallied together to improve their situation. On February 16, I attended the “Rally Against RI Public Safety Department Brutality.” I was particularly moved when early in the event approximately 25 of the Island’s young residents walked on stage and bravely announced they had all had troubling incidents with the Public Safety Department. This was followed by more than two hours of accounts from residents who had come to share their personal stories. I urge you to see their stories yourself on the Roosevelt Islander or at KallosForCouncil.com/share/roosevelt-island-public-safety-stories

Assembly Member Jonathan Bing secured the passage of 13 bills in the Assembly, 6 through both houses, and 5 signed into law, while I served as his Chief of Staff. To give our community the support they deserve, please consider the following recommendations:

Force a Committee Vote on Your Legislation. Assembly Rule IV §5(b) allows a Sponsor of legislation to force a vote in committee. When this legislation was first introduced in 2010 it did not make it out of the Codes Committee and when it was reintroduced in 2011-12 it remained in the Governmental Operations Committee without an online record of a vote each time. Please use this power to force a committee vote immediately.

Force a Vote of Your Legislation on the Floor of the Assembly. The New York State Constitution Article III §18 empowers Assembly Members to collect signatures from two-thirds of legislators to force the legislature to convene an “extraordinary session” where they must vote on the legislation on the petition. Please use this power to force the legislature to make the legislation we need to protect Roosevelt Island residents.

Author Legislation Narrowly Tailored to Serve Our Community. Roosevelt Island residents are requesting a CCRB for the Public Safety Department of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation, but your legislation does not call for the creation of such a board. The current legislation creates an unnecessary bureaucracy duplicating the role of the Inspector General that is already statewide in nature. Please either introduce a twin bill that is narrowly tailored or amend the existing bill to solve the problem in question by creating a board with sole jurisdiction over the Public Safety Department. Either narrowly tailored legislation or introducing two versions of the same legislation with one narrowly tailored and the other broadly tailored will mean a greater chance of success.

Public Hearing and Solicitation for Improvements. Many of the changes below could have been identified prior to or immediately following the legislations introduction by holding of public hearings or through use of online transparency tools like those found at KallosForCouncil.com. Please hold public hearings on all of your legislation and submit it for public comment online and in person.

In reviewing the legislation you authored, A.956, we have identified multiple flaws that will not only prevent its passage, but create a body that is not reflective of the CCRB that it hopes to model. As authored this bill would not adequately serve to solve the problem for which it has been proposed as a solution. Here are some of the possible problems with the legislation and suggested solutions:

Create a CCRB Specifically for Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Safety Department Not for Police Statewide. The legislation seeks to create a CCRB for all police departments and peace officers throughout the State of New York. However, Roosevelt Island is only seeking a CCRB for the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Safety Department. The legislation must be amended or twin introduced that is narrowly tailored to address the specific problems on Roosevelt Island.

Require the Appointment Roosevelt Island Residents. The legislation seeks to appointment nine (9) members without mention of residency. All nine would be appointed by the Governor, with six appointed on the recommendation of the Attorney General, Comptroller, and legislative leaders. The problem here is that the legislation centralizes appointment power in the very Executive branch from which residents seek protection. Please model on the CCRB by requiring all appointees to be residents of Roosevelt Island with geographic diversity related to housing complex. Appointments should include the Senator, Assembly Member, and City Council Member representing the Island along with allowing direct election.

Include Experienced Law Enforcement Professionals Just Like the CCRB. The legislation specifically excludes the service of anyone with experience as a law enforcement professional while the CCRB appoints three out of thirteen who do have experience as a law enforcement professional. There is a role for individuals with experience as law enforcement professionals on a CCRB.

Require Cooperation by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Safety Department. The CCRB requires cooperation by the police department and its commissioner in all complaints, investigations, and reporting. This requirement must be included in the legislation.

We have already filed what we believe may be the first and only formal complaint with the New York State Inspector General and are going to supplement it with additional evidence we have collected. We hope an investigation will end abuses and create an oversight body of residents to prevent their recurrence.

I offer my support to you to get this legislation passed on behalf of the Roosevelt Island community, especially at this moment of concern, when it is so crucial that everybody works together for the sake and safety of our community.

This letter will be circulated to the Roosevelt Island Community Coalition, Roosevelt Island Residents Association as well as its Public Safety Committee, and finally online at KallosForCouncil.com/share/public-safety-stories where we are soliciting community feedback, suggestions, and support. As such, further amendments are likely to be submitted.

We respectfully request: (i) an immediate public hearing on your legislation, (ii) amendment or introduction of twin legislation to keep the Roosevelt Island community safe, (iii) an immediate vote in the Assembly Committees, and (iii) an immediate vote on the Assembly Floor.

On Behalf of My Neighbors on Roosevelt Island,

Benjamin Kallos

Candidate for City Council to

Represent Roosevelt Island and the Upper East Side

Yesterday, I received this response from Mr. Kellner:

I have a real record of results for the Roosevelt Island community. I will continue to work tirelessly to rebuild trust between the residents and the public safety department.

I appreciate Mr. Kallos' new-found interest in Roosevelt Island issues. While many of his suggestions demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of the statewide civilian complaint review board proposal -- as well as the legislative process -- I will give his comments all the consideration they deserve.

More on Assembly Member Kellner's statewide civilian complaint review board proposal at this previous post.

Mr. Kallos spoke yesterday at the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council Public Session. Mr. Kallos reported that he sent a letter urging Governor Cuomo to appoint the most recently elected RIOC Board nominee candidates Larry Parnes and Lydia Tang to the vacant RIOC Board seat formerly held by Sal Ferrera. Mr. Kallos noted that his letter was published by the Albany Times Union Capital Confidential which is read by Governor Cuomo.

Upon learning of the letter to Governor Cuomo, I suggested to Mr. Kallos:

... former RIOC Director Jonathan Kalkin, who was replaced by Sal Ferrera, was the winner in an earlier (February 2012) RIOC Director Nominee election before both Mr. Parnes and Ms. Tang.

Mr. Kalkin should be among, if not the first, to be considered for the vacant position....

RIRA member Frank Farance told Mr. Kallos that he did not think having Roosevelt Island residents as Board members was of prime importance but having competent Board Members whether residents or not was imperative.

Here's what Mr. Kallos had to say at yesterday's RIRA meeting.

WNYC Reports On Roosevelt Island Brutality Allegations And Residents Demanding RIOC Public Safety Department Changes

A reporter for WNYC attended the February 25 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Operations Committee meeting discussion of Public Safety Department brutality allegations. Today, WNYC reported on this ongoing Roosevelt Island controversy. According to WNYC:

... “There have been many complaints about public safety on Roosevelt Island, and not only about the way the officers have acted, but the way the RIOC has responded to those complaints,” like Micah Kellner, who represent the island in the Assembly. “We can’t have an agency investigating itself.”...

and RIOC Public Safety Director Keith Guerra:

... said in a statement he can’t comment on pending litigation, but emphasized he does not tolerate excessive use of force or the violation of constitutional rights. But some residents say that force has been used excessively by safety officers for years, particularly against young people.

“We need to rebuild the trust and the respect of the public safety so that they can be effective,” said Michael Shinozaki, a RIOC board member, “and that RIOC can be effective in improving the quality of the life on the island.”

RIOC plans to hire an outside consultant to review the public safety department’s work, but some say this doesn’t get to the heart of the problem....

Click here for the entire WNYC article and listen to the report below.



More on the February 25 RIOC Operations Committee meeting discussion of Public Safety Brutality allegations here.

Update On Roosevelt Island Brutality Allegations - Assembly Member Micah Kellner Calls For Civilian Review Board For Public Safety Department/NY State Police Forces - City Council Candidate Ben Kallos Requests State Inspector General Investigation And Resident Board To Oversee Conduct Of Public Safety Department

Logo of New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board from nyc.gov

I asked Roosevelt Island City and State elected officials if they had:

... any comment on the recent allegations of brutality by the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department?...

and any:

 ... position on a civilian review board for the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department?...

Roosevelt Island Assembly Member Micah Kellner replied:

The recent allegations against the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department are greatly concerning if they prove to be true. RIOC acted correctly in swiftly in referring this matter to the State Inspector General for review; however, this incident proves once again that New Yorkers need a state civilian complaint review board to investigate any alleged misconduct by state police forces like Roosevelt Island Public Safety .

On January 9, 2013, Mr. Kellner re-introduced his 2010 bill to:

... amend the executive law, in relation to creating the New York state civilian complaint review board..

Full text of bill (A00956) is here.

Ben Kallos (NYC Council Candidate for the 5th district which includes Roosevelt Island), shares this January 30, 2013 letter he sent to NY State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott regarding the alleged brutality incident.

Re: Complaint Regarding Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Safety Department

Dear Inspector General Scott,

Yesterday, the Daily News in an article titled "So-called 'peace officers' on Roosevelt Island are being sued over savage beating of 20-year-old who claims he was just waiting in front of a building" reported that Roosevelt Island resident Anthony Jones suffered fractured ribs and a pierced lung in an 'unprovoked' attack without being charged with a crime at the hands of state employees and officers of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation's Public Safety Department.

Under New York State Executive Law Article 4-A the Public Safety Department and its employees are a part of Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation which is a State entity under the jurisdiction of your office.

On behalf of Anthony Jones and the residents of Roosevelt Island, I am writing to request that the Office of the Inspector General investigate the incident alleged in this article as well as previous incidents relating to the conduct of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Safety Department.

We respectfully request that any resolution to your investigation include the implementation and ongoing support for a body comprised of residents of Roosevelt Island to oversee and review the conduct of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Safety Department.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in ensuring that State government, its employees and those who work with the state meet the highest standards of honesty, accountability, and efficiency.

Full text of letter from Mr. Kallos is here.

As reported previously, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) has submitted the brutality allegations which are subject to pending litigation to the NY State Inspector General's Office for review.

Mr. Kellner and Mr. Kallos are currently both seeking the 2013 Democratic Party nomination for NYC Council District 5.

On February 1, I sent the following inquiry to RIOC Acting President Don Lewis, Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra and RIOC Directors:

What is the current work status of any officer or supervisor involved in the recent alleged Public Safety brutality incident?

Are the officers/supervisors currently on duty or in some other status pending results of any investigation.

If their status has changed since the incident, what was the date the status changed.

No reply yet.

Allegations Of Brutality Leveled At Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department, Twenty Year Old Beaten, Maced, Hospitalized For 7 Days, Mother Not Able To See Him - RIOC Meeting Today To Discuss These Allegations

Reported last January 11 that the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) renewed their October 2012 request for the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) to investigate the actions of its Public Safety Department in the handling of a resident's arrest (Video here).

Today's RIOC Operations Committee Agenda includes the following item:

Chair's Motion for Executive Session to Discuss:
... b. Recent Complaint Against the RIOC Public Safety Department

Executive Session means that the discussion will not be open to the public.

It was not the investigation request from RIRA which brought about today's RIOC Operations Committee discussion of complaints against the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department. It was allegations of Public Safety Department brutality brought to the attention of resident Frank Farance and Mr. Farance sending the following January 24 inquiry to the RIOC Board and Executive Staff. (I have asked RIOC for comment on two separate occasions. They have not replied).

Here is Mr. Farance's January 24 inquiry to RIOC.

To: RIOC Board

A mother contacted me with an incredible story about two weeks ago (2013-01-13, presumably the trespassing entry on the PSD log). According to the mother ...

- The son (a 510 Eastwood resident) was waiting with a friend in the front 510 Eastwood stairwell for another friend to come down (who lived in the back of 510 Eastwood). No drinking/smoking involved.
- Public Safety officers came and the boys ran.
- The son, decided to give himself up since he didn't do anything wrong, was apprehended by PS officers.
- The PS officer asked the boy to get down on one knee, but had difficulty doing with the officer forcing him down, so he asked to do it himself.
- The PS officer maced the boy, smashed his face to the ground (face cut up, broken tooth) and stepped on the boy's back.
- The boy said he couldn't breath.
- When they arrived at PS, the boy complained he couldn't breath. An ambulance was called.
- The boy was taken to Mt. Sinai in Queens. They took X-rays of his lungs, they were filled with fluid. The doctor said: might be pneumonia.
- Mt. Sinai in Queens was out of space, so he was transferred to Mt. Sinai Madison Avenue.
- Again, X-rays of boy's lungs showed they were filled with fluid.
- They pumped 2.5-3 liters of blood from his lungs. A CT scan show fractured ribs and a punctured lung.
- One doesn't contract pneumonia in an hour, these were all a result of his abuse with PS officers.
- It wasn't until a day later that his parents were notified he was in the hospital.
- The mother arrived, but was prohibited from seeing her son. PS officers told the mother: if she attempts to see the son, she will be arrested and summonsed.
- The boy was handcuffed to the bed for five days (Sunday-Thursday), still in the same bloody clothes as he arrived.
- The boy was guarded by round-the-clock PS officers (not NYPD)
- The mother begged to see the son because he was losing fluids and might need a transfusion, but PS would not permit it.
- On Wednesday, the mother was able to see the son briefly.
- The mother asked: what is my son charged with? Answer: loitering/trespassing. She could not understand why he was still handcuffed to the bed if his only charge would be a summons.
- On Thursday, the mother spoke with PSD Chief Guerra, who told her: the District Attorney declined to prosecute.
- Guerra told the mother: Maybe your son learned a lesson(!).
- When the mother went back to PS, Lieutenant Yee told her: I'm sorry your son was so ill, we saved his life by taking him to the hospital. The mother said he was healthy prior, and believes he did not develop pneumonia during his arrest.
- The boy was in the hospital for seven days, he is now in rehab.

A more plausible explanation is: PS was so abusive that they almost killed him, and they stayed with him to monitor to medical progress and prevent information flow to the parents (under the false guise of "in custody") so that they, consistent with Guerra's approach, claim the person was faking their injuries. But it all went horribly wrong.

Can someone explain how PS can just take you away for five days, handcuffed to a bed with only PS officers guarding you 24/7, yet no NYPD involvement?

How does a loitering charge escalate into near-death and such abusive treatment by PS officers?

What is Public Safety's story on this?

Upon learning of these allegations, RIOC Director Michael Shinozaki called for RIOC to investigate this incident.

Again, these are allegations at this time subject to further investigation.

On January 25, I sent the following inquiry to RIOC Acting President Don Lewis, Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra and the RIOC Directors:

I am following up on email I sent yesterday seeking comment from RIOC regarding the Public Safety incident as described by Frank Farance that is included below.

Does RIOC dispute in any way the account of this incident.

If so, what is incorrect?

I plan on publishing a story about this incident and will include any statement that RIOC wishes to make on the incident?

Please let me know if you do or don't wish to comment.

No reply to date.

A press conference on this incident is scheduled for this afternoon at the Law Offices Of Michael S. Lamonsoff. According to a Press Release from the Lamonsoff Law firm:

INNOCENT VICTIM IS SEVERELY BEATEN AND BRUTALIZED BY THE NOTORIOUS ROOSEVELT ISLAND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS: RESIDENTS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY

In a bizarre twist of fate, those that are charged with the protection of Roosevelt Islanders have become the biggest threat to the security of the Island’s residents. The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department, through their peace officers, are solely responsible for policing the Island’s residents. While they are not members of the New York City Police Department, they are given similar powers in that they can effectuate arrests, use force, detain people, and issue summonses and tickets. Any persons arrested by them are turned over to the local NYPD precinct for processing.

The Island’s peace officers are not held to the same level of accountability for their excesses and abuses as the NYPD. They don’t have oversight groups like the IAB or the CCRB and they are answerable only to the Roosevelt Island Operating Committee Board of Directors who are political appointees. Their unchecked tactics include false arrests, beatings, Miranda rights violations, the imposition of curfews pell-mell, arresting residents who are not carrying picture identification, publicly defaming residents and using baseless, trumped up charges. The victims of these tactics are primarily the Island’s youth, whose futures are put at risk by these tactics. Parents of the Island’s youth fear not only for their children’s futures but also for their physical safety.

On January 13, 2013, 20-year-old Anthony Jones was violently assaulted by the Island’s peace officers. The assault began at 8:00 pm, at an apartment complex at which Mr. Jones and his friends were lawfully waiting for a resident to come out. Suddenly and without any provocation, the officers rushed towards them. They ordered Mr. Jones to the ground, and he complied. Thereafter, without resisting in any manner, he was maced, severely kicked, beaten and then handcuffed.

After having handcuffed Mr. Jones, the officers continued to brutally beat, kick and mace him. Finally, he was taken to a holding cell of the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department. While being held, Mr. Jones made desperate complaints that he could not breathe. He was taken to the hospital and handcuffed to his bed. At the hospital, doctors determined that Anthony was hemorrhaging blood into his lungs from the brutal beating at the hands of the officers. As a result of the beating, Mr. Jones sustained severe injuries to his lungs, several fractured ribs and teeth, requiring him to be admitted into the hospital for 7 days. Mr. Jones was never charged with a crime nor was he processed by the NYPD.

The Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department and their actions demonstrate a lack of training, regulation and accountability. Their actions are indicative of tactics designed to terrorize a peaceful and law-abiding community into fear and submission.

 The NY Daily News reported late last night:

... Now Jones is planning on suing the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Wednesday, charging the NYPD-deputized peace officers are poorly trained thugs who’ve been terrorizing “the peaceful and law-abiding community” they’re supposed to protect.

Jones’ mother, Monica Vega, said the incident happened around 8 p.m. on Jan. 13, when her son and some pals were waiting in front of an apartment building for a friend....

....The incident was caught on numerous cell phone cameras, Vega said....

and shows where Mr. Jones alleges he was beaten by Public Safety Officers behind 20 River Road

Image From Jeff Bachner/for New York Daily News

The issue of how to monitor and investigate complaints against the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department has been longstanding and unresolved. As reported in this 2010 post:

... Mr. Kellner's bill, (A 10618), will create a New York State Civilian Review Board. According to Mr. Kellner:

When a civilian makes an allegation of misconduct against an officer of the New York City Police Department, both the officer and the civilian know that the complaint will be investigated by a fair and impartial body — the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (NYC CCRB). But when there is a dispute over the conduct of an officer employed by one of the many police forces operated by the State of New York, there is no such recourse.

Our state government has created dozens of different police forces, of all shapes and sizes. They do important work, but when there’s a complaint, officers and civilians alike are thrown to the mercy of dozens of different internal review processes—which are often murky and inconsistent. I have introduced legislation to replace this Kafkaesque system with a single, fair and independent civilian review body — the New York State Civilian Complaint Review Board....

Mr. Kellner's legislation has not been enacted into law.

Nothing in the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Report for January 13 listed below

1/13/13 7:00 am to 1/14/13 7:00 am

1/13/13 - 1300 - 2 River Rd. - Noise Complaint - Unfounded - PSD/NYPD on scene.

1/13/13 - 1301 - 566 Main St. - Alarm - Doors and windows secured. PSD/ NYPD on scene.

1/13/13 - 1328 - 546 Main St. - Found Property - Returned to owner.

1/13/13 - 1409 - 625 Main St. - Possible Harassment - PSD on scene/refused NYPD.

1/13/13 - 1900 - 645 Main St. - Illegally Parked Vehicle - Vehicle was towed.

1/13/13 - 1928 - 543 Main St. - Past Aided - Refused medical attention.

1/13/13 - 1930 - 536 Main St. - Trespassing/Resisting Arrest - Two male subjects arrested.

1/13/13 - 2205 - 510 Main St. - Criminal Mischief - UA super notified.

1/13/13 - 2205 - 540 Main St. - littering - UA personnel corrected condition.

indicates the seriousness of this incident.

Will have more from this afternoon's press conference and if RIOC responds to charges.

UPDATE 4:11 PM - Here's what happened during the Press Conference.

Civilian Complaint Review Board For Roosevelt Island and New York State Police Proposed By Assembly Member Micah Kellner

Logo of New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board from nyc.gov

Over the last several years, there has been a desire by some Roosevelt Island residents to establish a Civilian Review Board to investigate misconduct complaints brought against the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp's (RIOC) Public Safety Department. A 2008 referendum, sponsored by the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA), on the question of a Civilian Review Board presented the issue to residents as follows:

Question #2: Citizens review board for Public Safety Department
WHILE CITIZENS OF NEW YORK CITY HAVE ACCESS TO A CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD FOR THE NYPD, ROOSEVELT ISLAND RESIDENTS HAVE NO SUCH EQUIVALENT FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT. SHOULD ROOSEVELT ISLAND RESIDENTS HAVE A CITIZENS REVIEW BOARD TO HEAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND THEIR OFFICERS?
Background: RIOC provides State peace offices in their Public Safety Department. Residents have expressed a desire for a formal process that can hear and act on their concerns.

The resolution in favor of a Civilian Complaint Review Board to investigate allegations against the Public Safety Department passed 1038 to 67.

What currently happens when there is a complaint against an officer of RIOC's Public Safety Department? In an earlier post I asked Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department Director Keith Guerra who answered:

Some folks choose to make complaints to me verbally, and can do so by calling me or coming in to see me in person. Others choose to lodge their complaints in writing, and can do so by filling out a Complaint Form and submitting it. That complaint will be investigated by the Integrity Control Officer (ICO). The last option is to lodge their complaint with the CCRB. A paid investigator will receive the complaint and forward it to the appropriate body.

This situation may change soon if a bill introduced by Assembly Member Micah Kellner, whose district includes Roosevelt Island and Manhattan's Upper East Side, becomes law. Mr. Kellner's bill, (A 10618), will create a New York State Civilian Review Board. According to Mr. Kellner:

When a civilian makes an allegation of misconduct against an officer of the New York City Police Department, both the officer and the civilian know that the complaint will be investigated by a fair and impartial body — the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (NYC CCRB). But when there is a dispute over the conduct of an officer employed by one of the many police forces operated by the State of New York, there is no such recourse.

Our state government has created dozens of different police forces, of all shapes and sizes. They do important work, but when there’s a complaint, officers and civilians alike are thrown to the mercy of dozens of different internal review processes—which are often murky and inconsistent. I have introduced legislation to replace this Kafkaesque system with a single, fair and independent civilian review body — the New York State Civilian Complaint Review Board.

With this legislation, our state’s bewildering array of state police forces will be brought together under a new independent watchdog, which will monitor police and peace officers employed by the State of New York—from state troopers and Port Authority Police to parks police, animal control officers, and tax enforcers.

The board, modeled after the NYC CCRB, will be empowered to investigate complaints about misconduct by officers employed by New York State agencies, public authorities, and public benefit corporations, and to recommend disciplinary action as appropriate—including forwarding cases to district attorneys where necessary.

This is critical to improving trust between New Yorkers and law enforcement. We have seen controversies ranging from allegations that state troopers attempted to influence a witness for political reasons, to complaints about excessive force by the Public Safety Department on Roosevelt Island. When there’s a claim that an officer acted abusively, we need a review process that everyone can have faith in.

The board will have subpoena power, and will employ experienced investigators to examine allegations of abuse of authority or excessive force. Any member of the public will be able to initiate an investigation, as will the board itself. In cases where misconduct allegations are substantiated, the board will recommend appropriate disciplinary action—and if no action is taken by an officer’s employer, the case will be forwarded to the local district attorney.

The New York City CCRB was controversial at first, but you can’t argue with the fact that relations between the NYPD and the community are the best they’ve ever been. This is no coincidence: when you have fair and consistent oversight, you get better policing and more public trust in officers. Everyone wins.

The board will consist of nine members, three chosen by the Governor and six appointed upon the recommendations of, respectively, the Attorney General, the State Comptroller, the Temporary President and Minority Leader of the Senate, and the Speaker and Minority Leader of the Assembly. The legislation authorizes the board to hire an executive director and an investigative staff.

Residents Association Exploring Civilian Complaint Review Board for Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department

Logo of New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board from nyc.gov

A discussion was brought up during the September meeting of the Roosevelt Island Residents Association (RIRA) Common Council concerning the formation of a citizen review board to monitor the activities of the Roosevelt Island Public Safety Department in a similar fashion as the New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) does for the NYPD. According to the CCRB web site:

The New York City Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB) is an independent and non-police mayoral agency. It is empowered to receive, investigate, hear, make findings and recommend action on complaints against New York City police officers which allege the use of excessive or unnecessary force, abuse of authority, discourtesy, or the use of offensive language. Investigations are conducted in an impartial fashion by the board's investigative staff, which is composed entirely of civilian employees. 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 police commissioner. As determined by the board, dispositions may be accompanied by recommendations regarding disciplinary measures.

Although no decisions at this meeting were made regarding the formation of a Roosevelt Island Civilian Review Department for the Public Safety Office, RIRA is seriously considering the possibility of doing so. I have asked Public Safety Director Keith Guerra for his comments on the matter. From what I can tell there has been a big improvement in the Public Safety Department since Mr. Guerra's arrival though that is certainly not a reason to prevent a Civilian Review Board for the Public Safety Office from being formed.

In other Roosevelt Island Public Safety news, remember that this Wednesday, September 10 RIOC is holding a Youth Summit at PS/IS 217 which is described as intending to help Roosevelt Island youth deal with law enforcement, among other things.

Below are Public Safety Report incidents for September 1-7 including a found bike returned to Public Safety (9/4), trespassing at the Motorgate garage (9/7), public urination (9/2,3), open alcohol containers (9/3,7) and what is described as public loitering and exposure between a male and female suspect (9/5)

Monday 09/01/09 7:00AM thru Tuesday 09/02/08 7:00AM
Found Property - Cell phone found and secured at PSD. Attempt was made to contact owner with negative results.

Escort - PSD and Service escorted Home Attendant into apt due to patient being disabled.

Aided - Male dislocated shoulder while moving furniture. EMS responds and he is transported to New York University Hospital.

Aided - Male feeling dizzy . EMS responds and aided is transported to Astoria General Hospital.

Found Property - Bag found containing small personal items, no currency and no identification. Secured At PSD.

Trespassing - Two males on roof, set off alarm. PSD responds and both are issued summons.

9/2/08-7:00 AM to 9/3/08-7:00 AM

Domestic Incident- No injuries. NYPD responded and referred Husband and wife to Family Court regarding child custody matter.

Missing Person- A Coler Hosp Patient since last week. Search of the Island yielded negative results. 114 Pct Detective handling it.

Vehicle Accident- Between a Tractor Trailer and a pickup Truck. No injuries. 911 notified for NYPD.

Water leak- Tenant not home. PSD and UA responded. UA located leak and will repair later.

Aided- A male accidently cut his foot on glass. EMS responded and he refused transport to the Hospital.

Disorderly Conduct- Subject arrested by PSD.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Domestic Dispute- Between Husband and wife. No injuries. Daughter responded to resolve the matter.

Trespass/ Public Urination-Subject arrested by PSD.

9/3/08-7:00 AM to 9/4/08-7:00 AM

Criminal Poss Weapon/ Reckless Endangerment- Subject arrested by PSD.

Trespass/ Public Urination- 2 subjects arrested by EMS.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Court Papers Served- PSD served court papers regarding a family court matter.

Missing Person- Male youth. PSD and NYPD conducted a search for the youth. 911 operator called PSD and reported youth was found. He went home.

Gas Smell/Hazardous Condition- PSD and UA responded. The stove was not completely shut off. Condition corrected by UA personnel.

Alcohol/ Open Container- Subject arrested by PSD.

Alcohol/ Open Container- Subject arrested by PSD.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Aided- An ill person was taken to the Hospital by EMS.

Aided- Male stated he was ill. EMS responded and he refused transport to the Hospital.

Graffiti- R/O Building on Column. Search for the subject yielded negative results . UA Notified.

Criminal Mischief- Rear Building window shattered in lobby. UA Notified. Search for the subject yielded negative results.

0700 hrs 09/04/08 - 0700 hrs 09/05/08

Aided - PSD officer responded with EMS to tenant's apt. Tenant was not feeling well. Refused to be transported to hospital.

Graffiti - PSD officer observed graffiti on seawall. Search was made with negative results.

Criminal Mischief - Officer observed cracked lobby window. Search was made with negative results. Super was notified.

Found property - Person turned in bike that was found into PSD. Bike secured at PSD.

Aided - Officer responded with FDNY and EMS for man not breathing. CPR was performed and aided transported to hospital.

Investigation - PSD received call of assault. Upon arrival mother of victim told PSD that it happened at unknown location in Queens. Advised to call NYPD and PSD when victim comes home.

Aided - Resident stuck in elevator. Resident was removed and refused medical attention.

Harassment - Victim notified PSD that she was harassed by male subject. PSD report made.

Harassment - Victim stated he was harassed. Summons was issued to female subject.

Aided - Female bit by dog. Refused medical attention.

0700 hours 09/05/08 - 0700 hours 09/06/08

Reckless Endangerment- Teacher reports to PSD while in courtyard with class unknown subject threw strawberries out of window. Child had redness on back. Nurse check child, refused EMS. School notified parents.

Graffiti- PSD officer observed written on stair at southpoint park.

Small Fire- PSD officer observed fire rear of 200 Main St extinguished by PSD. Property Damage

Verbal Dispute- Between two resident about Laundromat machine. PSD spoke to both parties.

Smoke Condition- PSD officer responded to apartment. Super on scene reporter tenant was cleaning her electric stove causing light switch to spark. Super unplugged stove.

Aided- PSD Officer while on patrol lost balance on segway. Causing injuries to left elbow refused EMS.

Arrest- PSD Officer summons a male and female subject for Loitering and Public Exposure of a person.

9/6/087:00 AM to 9/7/08-7:00 AM

Aided- Female fell in apt. EMS responded and transport was refused.

Found Property- a Wallet. It was secured at PSD.

Criminal Mischief- Broken Window. BY Mgt notified. Search for the subject yielded negative results.

Hazardous Condition- A tree down. It was cautioned off by PSD.

9/7/08-7:00 AM to 9/8/08-7:00 AM

Verbal Dispute- Over Motorgate fee. PSD resolved matter between Customer and Central Parking Employee.

Trespass- In the Motorgate garage. 2 subjects arrested by PSD.

Harassment- PSD and NYPD responded, NYPD prepared a report.

Alcohol/Open Container - Subject arrested by PSD.

Verbal Dispute- PSD responded no injuries and resolved by PSD.

Investigation- Tenant thought she saw someone in her apt. PSD and NYPD responded. There was no one in the apt.