Police misconduct: What do your elected officials think?

Background:

Hennessey is a member of the Assembly. Working with the State Senate, the Assembly can propose and pass laws that regulate local police departments throughout the state. It could create state oversight of police officers, which currently does not exist, or make internal police investigations public in New York.

Hennessey was elected to the Assembly in 2012. He grew up in Mastic Beach and attended William Floyd High School before graduating from St. John's University and Touro Law School. He prosecuted drug crimes for the Suffolk County district attorney's office before opening his own practice. He was a Brookhaven town councilman from 1994 to 2005.

Questions:

Police officers have remained on the job after shooting innocent people, falsifying police reports, lying under oath and committing other misconduct.

Is there a need for increased oversight of law enforcement?

No response

A New York law known as 50-a keeps investigations into police misconduct hidden from the public. In many states this is not the case.

Should 50-a be repealed?

No response

New York does not license police officers, and is one of only six states that does not have the power to end an officer’s career.

Should New York police officers be licensed by the state?

No response

His comments:

Hennessey has not filled in the survey.