Police misconduct: What do your elected officials think?

Background:

Wink Jr. can propose and vote on laws that affect the Nassau County Police Department. As a body, the Nassau County Legislature oversees the police department and can confirm or reject the county executive's choice for police commissioner. The legislature can also hold hearings and subpoena documents and witnesses.

Wink, of Roslyn, serves on the legislature's Public Safety Committee, which is charged with police oversight. He has been a legislator since March 2007, when he won a special election. Previously, he was a Town of North Hempstead councilman for five years and earlier, a legislative aide and chief of staff to Barbara Johnson, the late 11th District legislator. Wink was deputy counsel to the Nassau County Legislature from 1997 to 2000.

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?

Yes

Lawmakers with Nassau’s and Suffolk’s Public Safety Committees have not publicly discussed police misconduct since 2007.

Should the Nassau/Suffolk Public Safety Committee hold public hearings on police misconduct when issues arise?

Yes

New York City has a civilian review board that independently reviews complaints of police misconduct.

Should Nassau/Suffolk create a civilian review board?

Yes

His comments:

Legislative oversight regarding this or nearly every other issue in Nassau County has been non-existent for the past 4 years. Less than a handful of oversight hearings have been conducted by all 12 committees combined.

Wayne Wink (D-Roslyn)
L.D. 11