BROOKHAVEN, N.Y. (AP) - A Long Island police department has made improvements in its relations with Latinos, but there is still a persistent mistrust between community members and police, according to a U.S. Department of Justice report.
The Justice Department’s findings mark the first time in more than four years of monitoring that the Suffolk County Police Department has been found in “substantial compliance” in any of the major categories being tracked: bias-free policing, hate crimes and hate incidents, language assistance, allegations of police misconduct, and community engagement, Newsday reported.
The police department agreed to federal monitoring in 2014 following complaints over how it responded after the 2008 beating death of Ecuadorian immigrant Marcelo Lucero by a group of teenagers.
Walter Barrientos, a consultant for the immigrant advocacy group Make the Road New York, said the monitoring has been “a force for good and change.”
However, Barrientos said, the report does not address some issues of concern to the community, such as cases involving missing Latino youths and the classification of minors as gang members.
While the department has developed policies, the implementation needs work, said Cheryl Keshner, senior paralegal and community advocate for the Empire Justice Center.
“We hear from community members who are not … being treated in a respectful manner,” Keshner said.
“The department will continue to further strengthen our relationship with all of our community partners and looks forward to ensuring additional compliance in the coming months, with the ultimate goal of attaining full compliance,” said Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart, who took over in April.
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Information from: Newsday, http://www.newsday.com
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