County begins police oversight panel

PLATTSBURGH | In the aftermath of George Floyd's killing at the hands of law enforcement, Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered all municipalities to form oversight committees as a check on police power. The panel overseeing Clinton County - namely, the Sheriff's Office - is in its early stages, establishing their own procedures and protocol as they move forward. In an introductory meeting on Sept. 15, Sheriff David Favro presented his take on the matter and his intentions going forward. The killing of Floyd, he said, should never have happened. Favro added that if fellow officers had intervened, as is required in New York law, the killing may have been averted. "There will always be bad apples," he said, adding that all professions have issues. During the presentation, he stressed the importance of acting quickly in a potentially deadly situation. Favro said shootings happen in a split second, although the justice system and the court of public opinion have months to dissect the incident. Favro presented two videos to highlight this point. In one, a police officer tried to deescalate a tense traffic stop with a man who eventually began loading a gun. The officer continued to try de-escalating the situation verbally but was ultimately shot and killed. These incidents, Favro said, show that hesitation could mean the end of an officer's life - and potentially others as a result. While acknowledging it isn't popular to say, he stated that noncompliance may be the root cause of many unfortunate interactions with law enforcement. "[Respect is] something that we really started to see erode for the last decade, and it starts with law enforcement. I keep hearing the question - and I don't want to get into media assessments - but I keep hearing the question: What are we going to tell our children - all of these beatings and these shootings? It's a horrible thing to see," he said. "I got a crazy idea, how about we tell them to follow the direction of the police officer for now and we'll fight it later." If you are being wrongly arrested or experiencing excessive use of force, Favro said that following the directions of the police during the incident and fighting it in court is much more effective. The court system can later dismiss charges that were not warranted. By challenging a police officer in the line of duty, they are required to deescalate - making the situation more difficult for everyone involved. "If you're being wrongfully arrested if the officer was rude to you - whatever the case may be. But, if they say 'put your hands on your steering wheel' and they give you a clear command, put your hands on your steering wheel. If they say stop, stop," said Favro. "These things are pretty simple commands. But, I will tell you I'm probably one of the first elected people you've heard say that. Because a lot of people don't want to say it. They don't want to stand up and say people need to listen." Through the years, Favro said some of his favorite moments were leading parades and taking part in community outreach events throughout the county. "[It's the] best opportunity ever because I can go to every corner of the county and be able to talk with people - find out what their needs are, and make necessary changes within the department to help them out." Communication will be important as the panel moves forward. They are currently holding their meetings in the auditorium at 130 Arizona Avenue. The panel is comprised of County Court Judge Patrick McGill, County Legislature Chair Mark Henry, Legislator Calvin Castine and Legislator Chris Rosenquest. Favro said that respect towards law enforcement, and society as a whole needs to be rebuilt. Defunding the police isn't the answer. "It's the truth, they need to listen. We can sort anything out. Communication is a great thing, but it needs to start with that."

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County begins police oversight panel

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