Newburgh Launches Police Advisory Committee

NEWBURGH – The City of Newburgh is pleased to announce the creation of a Police Advisory Committee in response to NYS Executive Order 203: New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. The Order was established in mid-June to address racial inequities in policing, and is also intended to modernize policing strategies, policies, procedures and practices to better address the needs of communities of color.

The Police Advisory Committee is separate from the City’s Police-Community Relations & Review Board (PCRRB) which was established in 2014 to improve communication between law enforcement and the community, increase police accountability and credibility with the public, and to create a fair and impartial complaint process. The two boards will work in close collaboration with one another, and their efforts are critical to the process ahead.
On July 20, the City announced its new law enforcement leadership team tasked with overseeing implementation of EO 203. Deputy Chief Arnold “Butch” Amthor and Senior Advisor Robert McLymore started less than a week ago, and have already made significant strides related to the New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. Amthor and McLymore will work directly with the Advisory Board and the community as we move toward Implementation of Executive Order 203.

The 15-member Police Advisory Committee will review the Executive Order and its requirements and create a plan to implement changes within the City of Newburgh Police Department. The group will address elements of policing including:
• Policy for Use of Force
• Training practices
• Data collection, disclosure and transparency
• Community engagement
• Oversight and discipline
• Complaint procedure
• Equipment

City residents and local business owners are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted until Friday, August 14, 2020. Letters of interest can be mailed to: Executive Office, City Hall, 83 Broadway, Newburgh, NY 12550 or emailed to Eliana Diaz, Executive Assistant to City Manager, at ediaz@cityofnewburgh-ny.gov.

The committee will have its inaugural meeting by the end of August, and will continue to meet biweekly for the remainder of the year.