BEACON POLICE OFFICERS TO HAND OUT BUSINESS CARDS,
FURTHERING TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
BEACON, NY: Acting Chief of Police William Cornett – in another step in Beacon’s broader process of increasing transparency and accountability – has ordered all City of Beacon police officers to carry and distribute business cards with the officer’s name and badge number.
Under the Chief’s new order, officers will identify themselves to individuals upon initiation of certain enforcement activities, including questioning or searches in traffic and checkpoint stops, searches and other non-custodial questioning. Identification will include officer name, rank and an explanation of the reason for the activity. At the conclusion of the activity, if it does not result in an arrest or summons, officers will offer their business card.
Chief Cornett said, “The cities of Poughkeepsie and Newburgh recently passed laws requiring their officers to identify themselves with business cards. This is the right thing to do, and we don’t need a law to tell us that. We are simply requiring all our officers to carry and provide business cards, which will increase transparency and build trust in our community.”
Mayor Kyriacou said, “I approved the Chief’s order. Like cameras – where the City of Beacon was an early local adopter – transparency helps everyone and builds trust. Our officers work tirelessly every day to protect Beacon and people should know who they are. If a resident has a concern, they should know who is involved and how to proceed.”
The Mayor continued: “Chief Cornett and I are working through changes that can be implemented quickly and will help increase trust, transparency and accountability. Last week, the City began posting the daily police blotter online, and now officers will be carrying and distributing business cards. More to come. Plus, we are at the beginning of a comprehensive review of policing, consistent with the Governor’s executive order.