Police Commission needs improvement

Dear Editor,

It has once again become so compellingly evident that power cannot be tasked with the responsibility of policing itself. President Donald Trump’s appointing members of his fan club to head agencies of the federal government, constitutionally charged with the responsibility of investigating corruption within the executive branch, has rendered these bodies impotent to provide their essential service.

As the country faces this crisis, our city continues to deal with something similar. The Kingston Police Commission exists to hear and evaluate complaints about possible abuses of authority by law enforcement officers. This kind of thing happens everywhere and there is no reason to assume that it cannot happen here. Every member of the community is entitled and encouraged to bring legitimate complaints to the commission for review. Too many are reluctant to use this vehicle to secure justice. When some do, the results have been, at times, disappointing.

The commission is seriously flawed by a number of factors that can be remedied. An essential component of any revision would be the exclusion of the police chief and any relatives of the law enforcement officers from serving on the board. The reason is obvious. Conflicts of interest must be avoided to insure the commission’s unquestionable integrity. In addition, there should be training requirements for commission members. Procedural guidelines should be created and the compliant process should be made more userfriendly and accessible.

We must to better in constituting and empowering our Police Commission.

The Rev. Frank J. Alagna, pastor, Holy Cross/Santa Cruz Episcopal Church Kingston, N.Y.