Governor Paterson Establishes Police-On-Police Shootings Task Force
Press Release
Governor Paterson Establishes Police-On-Police Shootings Task Force
Announces Task Force Leadership andIssues Executive Order No. 23 to Examine Issues and Implications Arising from Police-on-Police Shootings
Governor David A. Paterson today announced the creation of the Police-on-Police Shootings Task Force established by Executive Order No. 23. The Task Force will examine the issues and implications arising from police-on-police shootings and confrontations, especially between on-duty and off-duty officers and between officers of different races, nationalities and ethnicities, and how to prevent such incidents in the future.
Governor Paterson also announced that Christopher Stone will serve as Chair of the Task Force and Zachary Carter will serve as Vice Chair. The Task Force will consist of nine members including the Chair and Vice-Chair, all of whom will be appointed by the Governor. The additional members and Executive Director of the Task Force as well as a website devoted to the Task Force will be announced in the coming weeks.
"More than two weeks ago, I announced that I would convene a Task Force to study not only the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Detective Omar Edwards but also to study other police-on-police shootings and confrontations across this State and across the nation and the lessons we can learn from these incidents in an effort to prevent them in the future," said Governor Paterson. "The primary objective of this Task Force is to ensure that no police officer falls victim to these circumstances ever again because the implications for our families and our communities are simply too devastating."
"I am particularly pleased that Christopher Stone will serve as the Chair of this Task Force and that Zachary Carter will serve as Vice-Chair. Both men bring to the table a wealth of expertise and knowledge about criminal justice and I know that they will treat this issue with the sensitivity it requires," added Governor Paterson. "I look forward to receiving their report and working with them to implement their final recommendations."
Christopher Stone said: "It is a privilege to lead this inquiry at the behest of the Governor, and I look forward to working with all concerned to understand how these tragedies arise and to identify practical actions to prevent them. The issues of officer safety and public safety at the heart of our inquiry have the potential to unite many diverse communities in common purpose, so I am hopeful that our efforts will make a lasting contribution."
Zachary Carter said: "The formation of this Task Force by the Governor reflects a serious commitment to identifying the root causes of this recurring problem and developing solutions informed by the best scholarship, data and practical experience."
The Task Force will examine police-on-police shootings across the State of New York specifically examining how training, tactics, policies and procedures, technology and equipment, and sociological and psychological factors may contribute to such shootings and confrontations. Members of the Task Force will solicit the input of a broad and diverse range of contributors including law enforcement officials, community representatives, scholars and other relevant experts.
"At the culmination of its work, it is our hope that this Task Force will provide New Yorkers across the State with a sense that these situations are investigated thoroughly and that no conclusions are reached prematurely, said Governor Paterson. "We hope that all New Yorkers will take advantage of our forthcoming website dedicated to this issue so that we can gather as many comments and opinions as possible from the public."
The Task Force is expected to issue its final report to the Governor six months after it begins its substantive review process.
Mr. Stone is the Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Professor of Practice of Criminal Justice at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, where he chairs the Program on Criminal Justice Policy and Management. From 1994 to 2004, he served as President and Director of Vera Institute of Justice, a non-profit organization in New York City that designs, implements and evaluates innovations in the administration of justice in the United States and abroad. He previously served as one of three founding board members of the New York State Capital Defender Office, and is most recently the lead author of a study of changes in the Los Angeles Police Department under a federal consent decree. He is a member of the board of the Open Society Justice Initiative, and a founding member of the board of the Police Assessment Resource Center. Mr. Stone is a graduate of Harvard College, the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University, and the Yale Law School.
Mr. Carter is a partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP. He is head of the firm's New York Trial department and co-chair of the White Collar Crime and Civil Fraud Practice. Prior to joining Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Mr. Carter, served as United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York from 1993 to 1999. His tenure was noted for numerous prosecutions of national significance including several civil rights related cases. As a member of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee of United States Attorneys, Mr. Carter played a prominent role in the development of Department of Justice policies. He currently serves on the board of Marsh & McLennan Companies where he serves as Chair of the Compliance Committee. He is also a member of the board of Cablevision, a member of the board of trustees of New York University Law School, member of the Board of Directors of VERA Institute of Justice, and member of the Board of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice Foundation. Mr. Carter currently serves as Chair of Board of Directors of Hale House. He is a graduate of Cornell University and New York University School of Law.
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