Smithtown, NY: On Wednesday, December 1st, 2021, Suffolk County Legislator Kevin McCaffrey joined Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association President Noel DiGerolamo, Acting Suffolk County Police Department Commissioner Stu Cameron, County Executive Steve Bellone, and many other officials to discuss the County’s Police Reform Plan.
As a long-standing supporter of law enforcement, Legislator McCaffrey appreciated the opportunity to have a seat at the table as the future of policing within the County was discussed through a series of hearings, conferences, and debates through 2020 and 2021.
These events culminated with a March 2021 agreement between the Suffolk County Executive, Suffolk County Police Department, task force members and other relevant stakeholders in the community to adopt the Suffolk County Reform and Reinvention Plan following a comprehensive review of current police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices.
As such, beginning next year, nearly two thirds of the police force- predominantly public facing personnel- will be equipped with body worn cameras, and in addition representatives from the Suffolk County Human Rights Commission will have the opportunity to work with the Internal Affairs Bureau in review of misconduct determinations.
Throughout the process, it was made clear that changes would be coming to our Police Department and the way in which they it operates. Understanding this, Legislator McCaffrey felt it was absolutely crucial that a plan allow for proper review of police malpractice without jeopardizing the safety of the residents of Suffolk County.
Legislator Kevin McCaffrey represents Suffolk County's 14th Legislative District, which encompasses the Villages of Lindenhurst and Babylon, the hamlets of West Babylon and North Lindenhurst, portions of Copiague, North Babylon, and Babylon's barrier beach communities.
