Curran Names Members Of New Nassau Police Diversity Committee

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — Last week, Nassau County Executive Laura Curran announced she was creating a new committee to explore how to increase diversity in the Nassau County Police Department. Today, Curran named the people who would be serving on the committee.

The Nassau County Police Diversity Committee will be looking at ways the county's police department, which is one of the largest in the country, can recruit more people of color into its ranks. The move was spurred by a recent Newsday investigation 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.

“My administration is committed to increasing diversity in Nassau’s police force and will advocate for the changes we need to accomplish this goal," Curran said. "I thank the members of the Nassau County Police Diversity Committee for their commitment to police reform.”

The committee will be chaired by Bishop Lionel Harvey of the First Baptist Church of Westbury, who is the deputy director for diversity and engagement at the county's Office of Minority Affairs. The rest of the committee is:

• Theresa Sanders — President of Urban League of Long Island
• Dr. Jermaine Williams —President of Nassau Community College (NCC)
• Leslie Davis — President of Westbury NAACP
• George Siberón — Executive Director of Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association
• Jay Singh — Member of Asian American Affairs Council and Indian American Association
• Toufique Harun — Muslims for Progress
• Gabriela Castillo — Nassau County Office of Legislative Affairs
• Martha Krisel — Executive Director of Nassau County Civil Service
• Officer Shajarah Williams — Nassau County Police Department Community Affairs (recruitment)

The goal of the committee is to 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.

"This is a great opportunity for the county to take a concentrated look at the hiring practices of the Nassau County Police Department," Harvey said. "I am committed and proud to take a leadership role in helping shape the diversity of our police in all aspects, including recruitment, training, testing and the all-important mentorship of young recruits of color."