FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:     
AUGUST 4, 2009

CONTACT: ROBERT CALARCO
    Office:  (631) 854-1400

Cell:  (631) 523-1586
Email: Robert.Calarco@suffolkcountyny.gov

Legislature Backs Eddington’s Plan to Give Subpoena Power to the Public Safety Committee

Hauppauge, LI—Tuesday, August 04: Suffolk County Legislator Jack Eddington (I-Medford), Chair of the Public Safety Committee, has achieved legislative authority granting his committee subpoena power to investigate the staffing and administrative practices of the Suffolk County Police Department.

Procedural Motion 18, sponsored by Leg. Eddington, was adopted at the August 4^th general meeting by a vote of 14 in favor 2 opposed and 2 abstentions. The motion gives the Public Safety Committee, by majority vote, the authority to subpoena former and current SCPD officials and place them under oath.

The Legislature’s Public Safety Committee has an oversight responsibility for major policy decisions that directly affect public safety. Recent changes in policy have been significant in number and scope, yet the Committee has been unable to obtain clear answers from police officials to direct questions concerning serious issues with manpower.  Specifically, Committee members need to know the actual number of officers on patrol and how they are deployed, the effects of eliminating detective stand-by, and the use of gang unit and COPE officers for sector patrol. Decisions regarding these issues have drained experience at the precinct and command levels by shifting away officers with experience to new and unfamiliar sectors. The inability to get clear answers on critical police policies has left the Legislature no alternative but to utilize subpoena power in the interest of public safety.

“I have been told that crime is down but violent crime is up 10.8%,” said Eddington. “I have been told we have more cops on the street but we have less.  I have been told that standby is a recent policy but it is 30 years old; I can no longer believe what I have been told.  The legislature must use its subpoena power to get at the truth.”