Police Reform Advisory Committee

In July 2020, the Village of Ossining began to undertake a comprehensive review of its police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures and practices following the issuance of NYS Executive Order 203 directing local governments with police agencies to perform a comprehensive review of practices and policies to promote fair and transparent community-oriented policing strategies designed to eliminate racism and racial disparities. A twenty-nine-point plan (Plan) was developed based upon consultation with stakeholders and the public, which included a recommendation that to monitor the Plan’s implementation the working committee be continued or that the Board of Trustees create a new committee.

On December 8th, 2021, the Board of Trustees created a new committee, known as the Police Reform Advisory Committee.

The Police Reform Advisory Committee’s function will be to:

• Review the Plan’s progress.
• Report to the Board of Trustees on the process for implementing the Plan’s recommendations.
• Recommend changes where necessary.
• Evaluate the working committee’s suggested recommendations which recommendations were not adopted by the Board of Trustees in the Plan.

The makeup of the Police Reform Advisory Committee will include:

• No fewer than nine and no more than fifteen members.
• One Chair and one Vice-Chair.
• The Corporation Counsel or designee shall serve as legal advisor to the Advisory Committee and shall attend each meeting.  In addition, the Corporation Counsel or designee shall serve as Secretary to the Committee assisting in the preparation of meeting agenda, minutes and dissemination of materials.
• Meetings will be held monthly and will be open to the public.
• The Chair and Vice-Chair will be appointed by the Board of Trustees to terms not exceeding two years.
• The Chair and Vice-Chair shall not simultaneously serve as the Chair and/or Vice-Chair of any other board, commission or council of the Village or Town of Ossining.
• Advisory Committee members shall be appointed to a term of two years commencing on January 1 and ending on December 31.  Committee members shall serve no more than four consecutive two year terms.  For the committee’s first year, a number of appointees (to be determined by the Board of Trustees) will be appointed to a one-year term, subject to reappointment. 
• The Advisory Committee, by the Chair and/or Vice-Chair will report to the Board of Trustees at least twice a year on the progress of implementing the recommendations and on such other issues as requested by the Board of Trustees.
• Advisory Committee members may meet remotely or at any village owned building
• All Advisory Committee members must be at least 17 years of age
• The Board of Trustees will appoint as one member of the Advisory Committee an individual recommended by the local Ossining chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).  If that member leaves the NAACP or the Advisory Committee, the NAACP will nominate another member for appointment by the Board of Trustees.
• There will be at least member from a local faith-based organization.
• There will be at least one member from the Civilian Police Complaint Review Board.
• There will be at least four men of color on the Advisory Committee.
• At least one-third of the Advisory Committee members will self-identify as male and at least-one third shall self-identify as female
• Advisory Committee members shall be residents of the Village of Ossining and the unincorporated portion of the Town of Ossining.  It is anticipated that at least 60% of the appointed Advisory Committee members will be residents of the village. 
• The Board of Education will be invited to nominate a representative of the school district to be a member of the Advisory Committee.
• Advisory Committee members must attend at least 75% of the meetings held during the year
• Meetings will be scheduled in advance and publicly noticed. 
• The Mayor shall serve as an ex officio member of the Advisory Committee.  Additionally, one member of the Board of Trustees shall be appointed by the Mayor as the board’s liaison to the Advisory Committee.