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Friday, April 21, 2023
Vol. 9, No. 16
PortWashingtonTimes KIDS GUIDE
SCHOOL BOARD RACE SET
3RD DISTRICT LACKS REPRESENTATION
PAGES 23-31
PAGE 2
PAGE 6
Nassau police score low on transparency
THE ENCHANTED BAXTER’S POND
Vera Institute report sparks calls for civilian oversight board BY R OB E RT PE L A E Z A 2022 study from the Vera Institute had Nassau County tied for the second-lowest score for police transparency in the United States with a ranking of 12 out of 100. Nassau County, according to the report from the nonprofit organization aimed at transforming the criminal justice system, scored a 0 in every category except for an 81 in police contact information and a 100 in policies. The areas were judged on their data being “accessible,” “usable,” and “meaningful,” according to the report. “How data is provided should be determined in consultation with community members, especially those impacted by the criminal legal system, to ensure that data is accessible and useful to the people most affected by policing,” Vera Institute officials said in their general recommendations from the report. Efforts to reach officials from the Police Department for comment were unavailing. The Vera Institute, a nonprofit national research organization, analyzed police transparency in 94 cities and counties across the United States. Chi-
cago received the highest score with a 70 and just 21 of the areas scored a 50 or above. The analyzed areas, according to the report, made up 25% of the entire United States population. The criteria used to measure the overall transparency of police departments was collected by Vera between October 2021 and January 2022, according to the report. Transparency categories used to score the 94 areas were police misconduct complaints, instances of officers shooting firearms, use of force, arrests, 911 calls, traffic and pedestrian stops, training, crime reports, police contact information and policies. The results of the study adds fuel to critics’ call for a civilian oversight board to monitor policing in Nassau. Susan Gottehrer, the director of the Nassau County chapter of the New York Civil Liberties Union, told Blank Slate Media that establishing a community oversight board to monitor policing is a matter of “political will,” but is something that should be established by the Legislature. “My concern and I think everyone’s concern is that without any Continued on Page 46
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROY SCHNEIDER
Baxter Pond Park is located at 1 Central Drive in Port Washington.
Commuters’ pros, cons with East Side Access BY C A M E RY N O A K ES
the Long Island Rail Road finally brought commuters to Manhattan’s After much anticipation and East Side. While commuters who work more than a decade in delays, Grand Central Madison Terminal closer to Grand Central rejoiced, opened for full-service Feb. 27 and many Penn Station commuters
have spoken out against the schedule changes, which many say have negatively impacted their commute, an essential aspect of their day. Continued on Page 45
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