Suffolk cops got nearly 400 misconduct complaints between March 2023 and May 2024 — but the county’s police watchdog said it still doesn’t know exactly how many officers were disciplined, a new report shows.
The Suffolk County Human Rights Commission’s findings praised SCPD leadership for being generally cooperative, but claims the commission is still kept at an arm’s length when it comes to evidence sharing, timing, and insight into disciplinary action.
“This information is vital to civilian police oversight,” the report stated, calling for “increased transparency.”
The report notes that while the HRC previously received updates on disciplinary outcomes, that access appears to have been cut off once the oversight process began in 2023.
“We are currently in the process of advocating for the department to release that information to us again and more clearly,” said Dr. Carolyn Peabody, chair of the HRC’s Administration of Justice Subcommittee (AOJ).
The report also highlights that the AOJ, tasked with monitoring the SCPD’s Internal Affairs investigations, stated that although it agreed with the department’s findings in most misconduct cases — it flat-out disagreed with the outcomes in 14.
The report claims that key evidence, like body cam footage, was either never activated or not uploaded in a timely way, adding that the absence of video in certain cases made it impossible to confirm or challenge Internal Affairs’ determinations.
“On multiple occasions, the commission could not agree or disagree with the proposed exoneration due to an Officer’s failure to activate the body-worn camera as per SCPD policy.”
This was the first civilian oversight report from the HRC since the commission’s role was expanded in 2020, part of a broader police reform plan mandated by the state following the murder of George Floyd.
The goal, according to the state, was to increase public trust by bringing an independent, civilian set of eyes to a historically closed-door process.
Shortly after the HRC’s expansion, former Suffolk Police Chief James Burke was busted in a prostitution sting after allegedly exposing himself and trying to solicit a sex worker at a park — his second arrest on the job — which supporters of the program pointed to as a glaring example of why the HRC needs to exist.
But critics believe the system still lacks teeth.
Civil rights attorney Frederick Brewington, who won a $20 million settlement against the county in the death of Kenny Lazo, has called the current oversight model a “farce,” arguing that without subpoena power or investigative authority, the HRC can’t deliver true accountability.
But Peabody believes she and the HRC are helping usher in a new era of police accountability on Long Island.
“We are committed to doing this right,” said Peabody.
“But that means having a full picture — not just the parts they choose to share.”
The Suffolk County Police Department told The Post it values the collaboration with the HRC, but said “with any new partnership, there is a learning curve and we continue to work with the commission to rectify any issues.”
“We believe working with the HRC, coupled with the work of our Internal Affairs Bureau, will lead to accountability and transparency,” the SCPD continued.
The Suffolk County Police Police Benevolent Association did not respond to a request for comment.
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