Stop Syracuse from Backtracking on Police Oversight

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The message:

Independent police oversight is one of the key ways we have to track what law enforcement is up to -- including misconduct and the abuse and violence that officers inflict on New Yorkers across the state.

That’s why we’re sounding the alarm over a recent decision by officials in Syracuse to gut the city’s independent police oversight body – the Citizen Review Board – stripping it of its ability to investigate reports of misconduct.

Take action:

Tell Syracuse leaders not to kill this essential tool for police accountability.

The recipients:

Sharon F. Owens, Mayor of Syracuse
Donald Johnson, the Chair of the CRB
Nolita Tanyhill, Citizen Review Board Administrator
Rita Paniagua, President of the Common Council
Patricia McBride, the Clerk of the Council

The message:

Take action:

Tell Syracuse leaders not to kill this essential tool for police accountability.

The recipients:

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Subject Don’t backtrack on police oversight

Message

Independent police oversight is one of the only ways we have to keep an eye on what law enforcement is up to. Without it, we have no real way to track the misconduct, abuse, and violence that officers inflict on New Yorkers across the state.

That’s why I was alarmed over a recent decision by officials in Syracuse to gut the city’s independent police oversight body – the Citizen Review Board – stripping it of its ability to investigate reports of misconduct.

I am writing to urge you not to kill this essential tool for police accountability.

For decades, Syracuse residents who have been wronged by police have counted on the Board to independently investigate their complaints of officer misconduct. Now, for no good reason, that option is gone.

City officials claim they are neutering the Citizen Review Board because of a recent court decision that stripped power from Rochester’s independent police oversight board. But they are misunderstanding – or ignoring – the fact that this court decision has nothing to do with Syracuse at all.

City leaders can’t use a misreading of the law, or a flimsy excuse, to effectively get rid of the Citizen Review Board and end the important work its members have done for 30 years.

Police departments cannot police themselves. The Citizen Review Board’s independent investigations of police misconduct provided invaluable insights into what police officers are doing on the streets of Syracuse every day.

If we want to hold police in Syracuse accountable, the first step is for you to give the Citizen Review Board its power back now.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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Stop Syracuse from Backtracking on Police Oversight

Most recent signers:

The message:

Take action:

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The message:

Take action:

The recipients:

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