Q: Why did the County convene this process if individual municipalities have to develop a reform and implementation plan?
County Executive Ryan McMahon, Mayor Ben Walsh and District Attorney William J. Fitzpatrick organized the Collaborative in order to have a comprehensive and consistent plan across town boarders to reform and modernize all police agencies in Onondaga County. Each individual municipality will be able to utilize this plan as a framework to pass their own legislation.
Q: What is Executive Order No. 203?
Executive Order No. 203 was issued by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo on June 12, 2020 and mandates that all municipalities in New York State hold public hearings and enact broad based police reform and reinvention by April 1, 2021 or risk losing all state funding. (View the Executive Order)
Q: How do I give feedback and provide input in this process?
The goal of these forums is to allow Supervisors, Mayors and Police Chiefs the opportunity to hear from residents about their specific ideas for police reform to inform the county and each municipality’s plans. The county is assisting in the coordination of these forums due to the current restrictions on in-person gatherings due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
What is the reform process for New York State Police?
Q: New York State Police are technically exempt from Executive Oder No. 203. However, they are cooperating with the reform process and are already in compliance with the Governor’s Executive Order.