Police misconduct: What do your elected officials think?

Background:

Browning can propose and vote on laws that affect the Suffolk County Police Department. As a body, the Suffolk 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.

Browning, of Shirley, is chairwoman of the Public Safety Committee, which is charged with police oversight. As chairwoman, she has advocated for higher police staffing and for keeping the ShotSpotter gunshot detection technology in North Bellport. She was elected to a fifth term in November. Before her election, Browning was a school bus driver for 18 years, and also served as a representative for the local transportation workers union. She received a bachelor's degree in labor studies from the National Labor College in Silver Spring, Md.

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 comment

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?

No comment

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

Should Nassau/Suffolk create a civilian review board?

No comment

Her comments:

Dear Newsday,

Thank you for the opportunity to respond to your survey. Your publication has raised very serious issues regarding police misconduct and the need for more oversight. I commend Newsday for bringing these issues to the forefront of public debate.

As a result of your reporting, and in my role as Chair of the Public Safety Committee, I will be strongly considering the need for increased oversight, as well as the need for public hearings and and/or a civilian review board to review complaints against the Suffolk County Police Department.

However, due to ongoing investigations and pending litigation, I have been advised by the County Attorney that it would be innappropriate for me to comment in more detail to your survey at this time.