NEW ROCHELLE, NY (December 7, 2022) — For the second time in a row, the City, and New Rochelle Police Department failed to advertise a meeting of the New Rochelle Community-Police Partnership Board. There is no currently scheduled seventh stop on the CPPB Listening Tour, and discussions afterwards suggested Beth El was the last stop.
The CPPB meeting was hosted by the Beth El Synagogue on November 16, 2022.
The meeting was promoted on Facebook by Rabbi David A. Schuck (11/10/22) and by Beth El (11/13/22).
Two members of the public (Lourdes Font/NewROAR, Vince Malfetano) showed up. There was Rabbi Schuck and me.
No members of Beth El attended.
CPPB members present were Rev. David Holder (Co-Chair), NRPD Commissioner Robert Gazzola (Co-Chair), NAACP New Rochelle Branch President, Minister Mark McLean, NRPD Captain Neil Reynolds, NRPD Captain Raul Rodriguez, NRPD Lt. Edward Hayes, Corporation Counsel Kathleen Gill, Wendell Sears, Dr. Betty Campbell, and Martha Gutiérrez and Michael Kushner.
Not present was Natasha Fapohunda.
City Clerk Michelle Oliveros took notes.
Altogether there were 16 people in the room total (9 from CPPB including 4 from NRPD) and 2 guests.
The event was MC’d by Minister Mark McLean. There was a brief introduction by each CPPB Member.
As usual, McLean began by asking residents, “What is community policing to you?”
McLean presented that question to Rabbi Schuck, who declined to answer.
Vince Malfetano asked about catalytic converters, double-parking, eScooters, blocked traffic and car fobs in cars. Gazzola answered by explaining Part 1 and Part 2 crimes.
Vince Malfetano asked about crime reports.
Vince Malfetano asked for the name of the consultant hired to make a report on Civilian Complaint Review Boards.
Vince Malfetano explained the Old Testament to Rabbi Schuck.
Kathleen Gill said the name is Center for Governmental Research in Rochester, NY.
Font read a letter from husband expressing concerns about anti-Semitic rhetoric.
Rev. Holder left at 7:45 pm.
Rabbi Schuck said Jews in the North End are worried about safety, very happy with NRPD, drills at Beth El, grateful for the New Rochelle Police.
I explained how SpotCrime.com provides the crime data Vince asked for, repeated my request for data on sustained civilian complaints.