Dutchess County Police Reform and Modernization Community Forums

PHOTO BY TYLER BLODGETT

“Transparency is at the very heart of the work we are doing. Creating this new webpage, holding these forums, and every step of the way working alongside key stakeholders will ensure an open and fair process by which we develop new plans and ideas for our police agencies.”

— Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro

Dutchess County Police Reform and Modernization Community Forums

• Saturday, Sept 12, 3-5pm - Town of Washington, including Village of Millbrook; Towns of Stanford, Pine Plains, and Amenia; Town of North East, including Village of Millerton. Sign-up: LINK

• Thursday, Sept. 17, 6-8pm -Town of Pawling, including Village of Pawling; Towns of Union Vale, Beekman, LaGrange and Pleasant Valley. Sign-up: LINK

• Tuesday, Sept. 22, 6-8pm- Town of Wappinger, including Village of Wappingers Falls; Town of East Fishkill; Town of Fishkill, including Village of Fishkill; City of Beacon. Sign-up: LINK

• Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6-8pm-Towns of Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie. Sign-up: LINK

• Saturday, Sept. 26, 3-5pm- Town of Rhinebeck, including Village of Rhinebeck; Town of Red Hook, including Villages of Red Hook and Tivoli; Towns of Milan and Clinton. Sign-up: LINK

• Tuesday, Sept 29, 10-11:30am – Spanish Language Forum, county-wide.

• Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6-8pm- City of Poughkeepsie.

• Thursday, Oct. 1, 6-7:30pm – Spanish Language Forum, county-wide.

• Saturday, Oct. 3, 3-4:30pm – Spanish Language Forum, county-wide.

  Registration is required and individuals are encouraged to sign-up at DutchessNY.gov/PoliceForums.   

Municipalities across the state will have to formally address policing concerns in their communities by April 1, 2020, in accordance with Gov. Cuomo’s Executive Order 203. The order was enacted “on May 25, 2020, following the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minnesota, protests have taken place daily throughout the nation and in communities across New York State in response to police-involved deaths and racially-biased law enforcement to demand change, action, and accountability.”

As part of this measure, Dutchess County launched a new website, DutchessNY.gov/PoliceReform, to provide the public with related information and updates. The site will also serve as the host for several virtual forums moderated by the Dutchess County Commission on Human Rights, beginning this weekend (schedule on sidebar).

Registration is required to participate in the forums. A 3-minute time limit will be in place for all questions, with priority given to those living or working in that forum’s particular geographic location. A recording of all forums will be available after the event on the county’s website.

Jody Miller, Chair of the county’s Commission on Human Rights, said, “The Commission on Human Rights is committed to making sure everyone who wants to contribute ideas and feedback to this process is heard.  We’re encouraging anyone who lives, works, worships, volunteers, has family in, or is connected to a municipality listed for a particular forum to sign-up at DutchessNY.gov/PoliceForums. We want people to share their specific ideas about police reform that will assist the County and municipalities with police agencies to develop their plans.”

Sources:

https://www.dutchessny.gov/County-Government/Community-Forums.htm

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/no-203-new-york-state-police-reform-and-reinvention-collaborative