Mayor Barlow announces Oswego Police Re-invention Plan Receives unanimous approval
Mayor Billy Barlow announced today the City of Oswego Police Reform and re-invention plan present in December of 2020 has received unanimous, bi-partisan support and approval from the Oswego Common Council and will immediately be submitted to New York State. The Police Reform Plan is a result of a June 12th Executive Order from New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, requiring every law enforcement agency in the state to adopt a police reform plan by April 1st, 2021, or risk losing state aid funding.
Following the June Executive Order, the Oswego Police Department started developing a plan. In November, Mayor Barlow created a six-member committee to vet the plan and in December he presented the plan during a live, in-person and virtual public forum. The public comment period was held through December and early January. Mayor Barlow then brought the plan before the Administrative Services Committee for approval, subjected the plan to a final public hearing and a final vote this evening. During the public forum in December and the public hearing earlier this evening, the proposed plan and changes were met with supportive words from the public and a 7-0 vote from the Oswego Common Council.
"The Oswego community at large respects and appreciates the Oswego Police Department and law enforcement and want to know our city is well protected. That is why our police-reinvention plan is designed to bring our officers closer to the community, allowing officers to better know our community and the people we serve,” said Mayor Billy Barlow. “Our plan and new initiatives are thoughtful, balanced and designed to fit our community. I’m pleased to see our plan receive public support and unanimous approval from the Common Council and believe our plan, once fully implemented, will make our police department better, stronger and more prepared to serve our community than ever before,” Barlow said.
The City of Oswego Police Reform & Re-invention Plan Highlights
-Incorporate mental health counselors to co-respond to mental health, crisis intervention calls
-Make annual anti-bias, de-escalation & minimization of force training mandatory
-Mandated minimum number of hours for department foot & bike patrols
-Launch HOPE initiative to combat homelessness, poverty
-Participate in Service to Aid Families (SAF) to follow up on police interactions & service
-Partner with County DA Greg Oakes on “Handle with Care” program, childcare support
-Permanently assign an officer to community policing unit to coordinate with service groups
-Increase education and situational awareness training, implement “Smart Technologies”
-Implement regular “Quality Assurance Surveys” for department, individual officers
-Create a consistent policy and channel for citizen and internal complaints
-Publicize all OPD policies and procedures, including training, on city website
-Update body worn camera system and expand policy to include entire department
Chief of the Oswego Police Department, Phil Cady, said “The Oswego Police Department working in conjunction with local stake holders has crafted a plan that will build on the progressive service provided to the Oswego Community. Integration with local service providers and various groups will only help to strengthen the departments relationship with the community. Under Mayor Barlow’s leadership, we look forward to implementing new training, technology and community policing programs.”
Kevin Hadcock, Union President of the Lake City Police Club representing members of the Oswego Police Department said, “The Lake City Police Club believes that the police reform proposal will ultimately allow our already positive relationship with the community we serve to flourish. Our dedication to the residents of Oswego will continue to be our top priority and we appreciate the efforts and support of both Mayor Barlow and the committee members throughout this process.”
Robert Corradino, President of the Oswego Common Council said, “the Oswego Police Department is a highly professional and accredited law enforcement agency that has done a great job serving and protecting our community. This reform and re-invention plan which had input from the community will help the department better serve our residents with improved relationships and interactions now and in the future.” Councilor Corradino continued by saying, “ having a thoughtful and productive review of our police policies and procedures is a good way to make sure that public safety enforcement is the best it can be. I would like to thank Chief Cady and the members of the committee for working on this initiative and the men and women of our police department who will eventually implement it.”
The plan and accompanying resolution will immediately be submitted to the State of New York. To view the plan in its entirety, visit https://www.oswegony.org/government/police.
