The Garden City Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Plan, which has been posted on the village website for viewing since Jan. 22, was adopted by the Board of Trustees last Tuesday following a public hearing. Garden City Mayor Theresa Trouvé and Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson thanked the community stakeholders and representatives who participated in the collaboration. The village participated in this collaborative effort while conducting a full review of Garden City Police Department policies and procedures. As a result of changes in legislation and input from the Garden City Reform Committee and Nassau County’s Police Reform Initiative, PACT (Police and Community Trust), the GCPD has made modifications to its policies and procedures as outlined in the plan.
“This plan reflects the Village of Garden City’s and the Garden City Police Department’s commitment to serving all the people both equally and fairly,” Commissioner Jackson said. “When applying the guidance presented by the state to the existing policies and procedures in effect, it was gratifying to realize that a great deal of the improvements in standards and practices this process was created to achieve, are already in place. The village is committed to improving upon this strong foundation and will continue to promote fairness, transparency, trust, and legitimacy while working towards reducing racial disparities.”
Several comments were received regarding the Garden City Police Reform Plan. The majority of the responses were supportive of the plan; two contained statements and questions, not suggestions, and one email contained The People’s Plan, which was submitted by a representative of Long Island United to Transform Police and Community Safety. To view the plan, visit the village website, www.gardencityny.net.
Garden City Reform Committee members include Mayor Trouvé; Trustee Mark Hyer; Reverend Earl Thorpe, Church of the Garden; ADA Ali Ajamu, Bureau Chief, DA’s Office; Alan Schwartz, Defense Attorney; Lauren Scarantino, EPOA; Donald Brudie, CPOA; Nancy Minett, Estates POA; Nicholas Vernice, WPOA; Ralph Suozzi, Village Administrator; and Inspector Steven Braun.
—Submitted by the Village of Garden City
