CCRB brings rights training to Far Rockaway teens

Two NYPD officers on patrol. The Civilian Complaint Review Board educated a group of Far Rockaway teens about their rights in encounters with their police Wednesday morning. Photo by Torba K. Hopper.

By Rachel Vick

The Civilian Complaint Review Board hosted an assembly in Far Rockaway on Wednesday to promote awareness of the Right to Know Act, which mandates that NYPD officers identify themselves and provide business cards with their names when stopping people in most circumstances. 

Wednesday’s program was the first stop on a citywide tour to inform New Yorkers about the law, which is designed to foster transparency and trust among communities and police, and went into effect in October 2018. CCRB delivered its presentation to more than 100 students, who participate in the Summer Youth Employment Program.

Few of the kids, most of whom were people of color, seemed unaware of their rights in police encounters. Even some of the group leaders said they learned something new.

“One of the reasons I think this is significant is because a lot of our young people have been stopped by the police obviously with no knowledge on how they should respond — I certainly didn’t know that you could ask an officer for their business card, so I don’t imagine many of them would either,” said Renee McWilliams managing director of career development services at Rockaway Development and Revitalization Corporation.

CCRB Chairperson Fred Davie outlined one of the tools used by the board to determine where misconduct has occurred, instructing the students repeat the terms back to him.

The presentation was led by CCRB Senior Counsel for Policy and Advocacy Harya Tarekegn and Director of Outreach Yojaira Alvarez, who explained the law with a brief skit, demonstrating situations similar to one students might encounter.

Tarekegn and Alvarez said that the law expands on the Miranda Rights to ensure people are aware of their rights early on in encounters with the police. 

“Sometimes it feels like you have no power and [the authorities] have all the power,” said CCRB Executive Director John Darche. “That’s not how things should work in this city, and we’re here to give you the power over what happens in the streets of your neighborhood.” 

Councilmember Donovan Richards highlighted out the community’s disparate rate of complaints against police officers.

CCRB intern Melanie Martinez recounted an experience with police misconduct the afternoon after her interview. Still carrying the RTKA flyers, she said the ability to go down a list and point out to the officers what should have been done was “empowering.”