New York Governor Cuomo has signed a number of statewide policing reforms in the wake of calls for widespread change to combat systemic racism.

Image: ny.gov
Image: ny.gov
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One of the measures signed over the weekend is the New Yorker’s Right to Monitor Act affirming people’s right to record law enforcement activity and maintain custody of the recording and recording devices.  Cuomo says the move is on track to hold police accountable and to provide greater transparency.

Courts and law enforcement will be charged with tracking all arrest data to maintain records of race, ethnicity and to keep track of people when they enter the system.

Police are also to be required to get medical and mental health assistance to any person in custody when they require it.

An officer will also have to report the discharge of a weapon within six hours

Photo Courtesy Senator Akshar's office
Photo Courtesy Senator Akshar's office
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The Governor says it’s one thing for protesters to demand change and to defund or dissolve police departments, but it’s another thing to identify what reform is, what they really want in the form of diversity, equipment, protection and review in police departments and then effectively implement those measures.

Cuomo says, in addition to the state measures, he wants local governments to custom-design their own reforms since every community is different with different populations, needs and concerns.

Local leaders have been given until April 1 to come up with their plans or lose New York State funding.

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