Curran Announces New Nassau Police Body Camera Program

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — As part of the state-mandated effort to reform policing in New York, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran today announced the rollout of a body camera program for the county's police department. By the end of the year, all 2,500 sworn officers will be wearing cameras while interacting with the public. In addition, Curran also announced a new committee to look at increasing the diversity of police hires.

The county is purchasing the cameras through the Ronkonkoma-based company Island Tech Services. The total cost of the program, including the cameras and digital storage for the video, is expected to cost about $5 million.

"Our goal is to build trust between the police and the communities that they serve, because we know that is what keeps everybody safe. Body cameras help build that trust," Curran said. "Police departments across the country that have implemented body camera programs know that they're helpful for documenting evidence, officer training, preventing and resolving complaints brought by the public, and strengthening police transparency, performance and accountability. Also, given that police now operate in a world where anyone with a cell phone can record footage of a police encounter, body-worn cameras help ensure events are also captured from an officer's perspective."

According to Curran, one precinct in Nassau will implement the body cameras by September, with the rest of the department following suit by the end of the year. As part of the deal reached with the police union on the issue, officers will be paid an additional $3,000 a year for wearing cameras.

Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said the department is still figuring out what it's exact practices would be — whether cameras would be rolling at all times, or if officers would turn them on before interacting with the public. He said they are likely to look towards the practices of the New York Police Department for guidance.

"We're going to sit down with our unions and figure out what's the best that serves the membership and our community," he said.

Ryder added that the program is not only a benefit for the public, but for police officers as well. In communities around the country that have implemented body camera programs, complaints and lawsuits against officers dropped dramatically, he said.

"You're going to find that most of the officers are absolutely fine with wearing the cameras," Ryder added.

In addition to the cameras, Curran also announced the formation of the Nassau County Police Diversity Committee, which will be headed by Bishop Lionel Harvey of the First Baptist Church of Westbury, who is part of the county's Office of Minority Affairs. The committee will be looking at ways the county can hire more diverse officers.

The move is spurred by a Newsday investigation published today into police hiring practices on Long Island. The investigation found that out of 2,500 Black applicants in Nassau County's 2012 police exam, only 36 were hired in the six years after.

"Newsday's investigation highlighted a genuine challenge in recruitment that the county is committed to addressing," said Curran. "It's essential that our law enforcement reflects the community. When we talk about building trust, having a police department that looks like the community is key to building that trust."

Part of the initiative, Curran said, would be to try to get the county out from consent decrees that the Department of Justice enacted in the 1980s and 90s. They were designed to actively oversee and monitor the county's hiring practices to create a more diverse police department, but they have not worked, Curran said.

The new committee would also look at new recruitment methods to attract more diverse applicants, helping minority candidates prepare for police exams and assisting minority candidates with mentorship programs to help them through police academies.

Nassau County Legislator Kevan Abrahams, the leader of the Democratic caucus, said the move was a good first step, but that more was needed.

"However, outside expertise is essential in order for the forthcoming commission to be effective," he said in a statement. "I urge the county to immediately revisit proposals — such as the retention of diversity and data consultants — that were recommended by my office but not acted upon during the state-mandated reform process so that we can get to the root causes and implement meaningful corrective actions."