Police misconduct: What do your elected officials think?

Background:

Flanagan is a member of the State Senate. Working with the Assembly, the State Senate 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.

Flanagan, of East Northport, was elected to the State Senate in 2002. Before that, he served 16 years in the Assembly. Raised in Huntington, he earned a bachelor's degree in economics in 1983 from the College of William and Mary in Virginia. In 1990, he received a law degree from Touro Law School in Huntington.

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Should 50-a be repealed?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:

Flanagan has not filled in the survey.