Following split from panel, advocates release 'The People's Plan' for police reform in Nassau

Now, the community groups, organized by attorney Fred Brewington, have submitted what the plan, a 305-page document that they say would lead to fundamental police reform, if followed.

News 12 Staff

Feb 19, 2021, 11:19 PM

Updated 1,391 days ago

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In an effort to bridge the gap between police and the people, a law enforcement reform group has released what it calls "The People's Plan."
In the wake of last summer's Black Lives Matter protests, community leaders, civil rights advocates and police and county officials were to work together to come up with a state-mandated police reform plan.
Advocates say social justice protests over the summer highlighted some inappropriate tactics used by some officers across the state to subdue demonstrators.
But last month, dozens of community members on the advisory panels in Nassau County resigned, saying their voices were not being heard.
"They are not really doing all that they can do to really see policing differently and make sure that the bias there does not harm Black and brown people," says Shanequa Levin.
Now, the community groups, organized by attorney Fred Brewington, have submitted what the plan, a 305-page document that they say would lead to fundamental police reform, if followed.
"What we've done here is provide the roadmap for Nassau and Suffolk counties to make holistic change to make the communities most affected, as well as every other community, better," says Brewington.
Among other things, the People's Plan calls for the creation of an independent body to investigate civilian complaints against police officers.
When asked about the plan Nassau Executive Laura Curran said they are reviewing it, and that in reference to a civilian complaint board, she said, "We want to make sure people have an avenue to report anything they need to, and that's what we're going to do."
The plan will be submitted to the Public Safety Committee of Nassau Legislature for review next week. The full Legislature has to sign off on the county's plan before it's sent to Albany.