‘PROCEDURAL JUSTICE’
Anthony Geraci discusses new role as Watervliet police chief
WATERVLIET, N.Y. » Voice. Neutrality. Respect. Trustworthiness.
Watervliet Police Chief Anthony Geraci lives by those four procedural justice principled policing words when it comes to running his 24 person department.
On July 25, 2019, Geraci became the first chief in the city’s history to be appointed from outside the agency, and he quickly saw opportunities for organizational change; operationally; administratively and culturally.
Geraci, 42, comes from a law enforcement family, with his dad, Michael Geraci, who spent many years in law enforcement around the Capital Region, including in Schenectady and Colonie.
Anthony Geraci has been in law enforcement since 1998 when he started as a cadet and then joined the New York Police Department in 1999. In 2003, Geraci transferred to the Albany Police Department and was most recently a lieutenant there, before he left Albany for the chief position in Watervliet.
Walking through the police department on 15th Street, one will see signs throughout the building with the four procedural justice words on it.
“It’s more than just words on a poster board; it really has been my approach,” Geraci said during a recent interview in his office. “Principled policing really boils down to procedural justice, reconciliation and implicit bias.”
“A lot of police depart
"It’s more than just words on a poster board; it really has been my approach. Principled policing really boils down to procedural justice, reconciliation and implicit bias." — Watervliet Police Chief Anthony Geraci
ments make the mistake of maintaining a training strategy around [ procedural justice] and they really don’t make it part of their culture,” Geraci explained. “I really made it part of the culture. “Every opportunity, I talk about it internally, externally and I have the signage up so that it’s a constant reminder.”
In his first 100 days in the position, Geraci has been busy with getting out in the community and implementing changes within the department.
On the first day of his new role, Geraci said he conducted a staff meeting with every supervisor.
Geraci also met with the PBA Union leadership; signed a letter of intent with New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to become accredited; entered a no- cost agreement with the National Police Foundation to facilitate two internal surveys; joined the board of directors for Arsenal City Kids; met with the school superintendent and school administrators on a frequent basis; walked the beat with patrol officers; and met with chief executive officers and senior leadership from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to initiate collaborative partnerships.
Another change that Geraci made was creating a public information officer role within the department to help with media relations as well as having himself and the department be more active on social media.
Geraci also recently created a Chief’s Advisory Board with various members of the community. Under Geraci’s direction, officers in the department were recently trained in NARCAN and carry it with them now.
The new police chief said he also organized an awards dinner to recognize the officers’ hard work and accomplishments.
Geraci said one of the things that he learned when he took the leadership position was from an informal poll that he asked residents. Geraci said the poll revealed that community members didn’t know the department’s officers.
“My job from this position is to really create as many non-law enforcement contextual situations as I can, ‘’ he said. “We’ve done that, and we’ve been really successful with that. We’ve had at least three dozen community events.”
Some of those community events have included participating in National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop Day, and Shop with a
Cop.
“I’ve encouraged the cops and the community when I speak in public to move from certainty to curiosity and that’s how you start to diminish some of these biases and you start that trust-building,” Geraci said.
An upcoming community event will be hosted on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Watervliet Jr/Sr. High School auditorium. The department is hosting a criminal justice reform forum.
Geraci said he believes there is a need for criminal justice reforms, but said he thinks the process should have been better thought out with various stakeholders and professionals being involved in the process.
Members of the police department said they believe Geraci has done a good job with changing the philosophy within the department.
“He’s brought some different and fresh views on law enforcement and a different perspective on law enforcement,” Lt. Brian Strock said, who was the acting police chief for part of last year. “He has made it a priority for our department to embrace the procedural justice concepts.”
Geraci said he has been happy with how the department and the new mayoral administration under Mayor Charles Patricelli has supported him and his approaches. Patricelli said he fully supports Geraci.
Geraci also mentioned how he has a three-year strategic plan that he wants the department to focus on.
“With a clear vision and direction, officers and supervisors have been empowered and as a result are having a profound positive impact on our agency and the community we serve,” said Geraci.