New York Codes, Rules and Regulations › Title 9 - EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT › Subtitle A - Governor's Office › Chapter I - Executive Orders › Part 7 - Executive Orders (David A. Paterson) › Section 7.23 - Executive order no. 23: establishing a task force on police-on-police shootings

Current through Register Vol. 46, No. 28, July 10, 2024
WHEREAS, law enforcement officers heroically put their
					 lives at risk every day to protect the citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, everything possible must be done to protect these
					 brave officers and reduce the risk of death or injury that they face;
					 and
WHEREAS, there have been tragic incidents in which officers
					 have mistakenly wounded or killed other officers who are not in uniform when
					 they are off-duty or undercover; and
WHEREAS, in one such recent incident, on May 28, 2009,
					 off-duty New York City Police Department Officer Omar Edwards was mistakenly
					 shot dead by another officer as Edwards chased a suspect who had broken into
					 Edwards' car; and
WHEREAS, in another such incident, on January 25, 2008,
					 off-duty Mount Vernon Police Department Officer Christopher Ridley was
					 mistakenly shot dead by officers from another department as Ridley was holding
					 a suspect; and
WHEREAS, we must do everything we can to prevent another
					 such tragedy in the future; and
WHEREAS, we must provide our law enforcement officers with
					 the training, tools, and technology to keep them, and other officers,
					 safe.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, David A. Paterson, Governor of the State
					 of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and
					 Laws of the State of New York do hereby order as follows:
A. Creation, Mandate and Reporting Duties of
				  the Task Force
1. There is hereby created the
				  Task Force on Police-on-Police Shootings ("Task Force") to examine the issues
				  and implications arising from police-on-police shootings and confrontations,
				  especially between on-duty and off-duty officers, between uniformed and
				  undercover officers, and between officers of different races, nationalities and
				  ethnicities, and how to prevent such incidents in the future.
2. The Task Force shall examine all matters
				  that it deems relevant to these issues with particular emphasis upon examining
				  how training, tactics, policies and procedures, technology and equipment, and
				  sociological and psychological factors may contribute to such shootings and
				  confrontations and/or help prevent such incidents and improve both officer
				  safety and public safety.
3. The
				  Task Force shall examine, and where it deems appropriate, inquire into and make
				  recommendations as to matters including but not limited to:
a. Statistics, data and descriptions
				  concerning police-on-police shootings in New York and other states and
				  jurisdictions. This review will include an examination of the frequency,
				  circumstances, and causes of shootings between on-duty and off-duty officers
				  and uniformed and undercover officers and between officers of different races,
				  nationalities and ethnicities.
b.
				  Good practices, tactics, training, policies, and procedures that may safely
				  prevent or resolve confrontations between on-duty and off-duty officers and
				  uniformed and undercover officers and between officers of different races,
				  nationalities and ethnicities, that are used, recommended, or under
				  consideration by law enforcement agencies, relevant professional organizations,
				  and experts.
c. Training for
				  officers, including possible state-wide curriculum for new and experienced
				  officers, arrangements for providing all officers across the state with such
				  training, and development and provision of facilities for interactive tactical
				  training.
d. Available technologies
				  that might be used to prevent police-on-police shootings, and the possible
				  development or adaptation of technologies for this purpose.
e. The sociological and psychological factors
				  and other conditions that may lead to, or result from, police-on-police
				  shootings, especially such shootings involving off-duty and undercover officers
				  and officers of different races, nationalities and ethnicities.
f. The experiences, insights, and
				  recommendations of current and former police officers across New York State who
				  have been at risk or felt themselves at risk from police-on-police shootings
				  while off-duty or working undercover, especially but not limited to officers of
				  any racial, ethnic, or national minority.
g. The organizational and managerial
				  structures and processes that may help to implement the matters described above
				  to prevent or reduce police-on-police shootings, especially involving off-duty
				  and undercover officers and officers of different races, nationalities and
				  ethnicities.
4. The Task
				  Force shall strive to make its recommendations by consensus wherever possible
				  and shall engage, and solicit the input of, a broad and diverse range of
				  groups, organizations and individuals, including, but not limited to:
a. Law enforcement officers, organizations
				  and experts.
b. Community
				  representatives and leaders, and interested citizens.
c. Criminologists, sociologists,
				  psychologists and other relevant academics and experts.
d. Experts on issues relevant to law
				  enforcement interaction with minorities and minority communities.
e. Whatever other groups, organizations, or
				  individuals the Task Force considers relevant.
5. The Task Force shall issue a report with
				  such recommendations and findings as it deems proper within six months of the
				  date that it begins its substantive review process as determined by the Chair.
				  The Task Force's report may include proposals for legislation, regulations and
				  policies that it believes would advance the goals of the Task Force.
6. Upon the filing of the report, the Task
				  Force's mandate will expire and the Task Force will cease to exist.