Legislator urges show of support for police

Posted 9/23/20

Ulster County Legislator Mary Beth Maio (R-Lloyd), former Chair of the Ulster County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, expressed concern over recent reports of local police officers and …

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Legislator urges show of support for police

Posted

Ulster County Legislator Mary Beth Maio (R-Lloyd), former Chair of the Ulster County Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee, expressed concern over recent reports of local police officers and their families becoming targets of intimidation. She is calling for a show of support for local and national law enforcement by demanding Cuomo ensure safety and privacy for our officers.

“In the current political climate, I can’t imagine how dedicated police officers and their families can deal with this additional threat to their personal lives, their home and even their children and do this demanding and dangerous job,” Legislator Maio said. “The vast majority of our police force, especially our local police officers, are responsible, responsive and respectful of the pubic.” Earlier this week, local police departments reported incidents of people driving by an officer’s home, stopping to intimidate family members, and parking near an officer’s house to videotape the house and its occupants. Maio’s job puts her in touch a cross section of local people every day. She feels the folks she speaks to are outraged by attacks and intimidation of local police. “In Ulster County, we will not tolerate intimidation or harassment against any group. We won’t stand for it against someone based on their race, religion, ethnic group or orientation and certainly won’t condone it based on their profession,” Maio said.

Maio notes the Ulster County Criminal Justice Reform Task Force members, which includes representatives of law enforcement, are in the process of reaching out to diverse local groups and churches to collect information about what would make those groups feel safer. Maio feels this could be an opportunity to strike a balance of public safety and officer safety. She is also looking to the surrounding counties to help to reach the goals of protecting everyone in our community.

“We rely every day on theses brave men and women of all races and creeds to keep our neighborhoods safe. The fact is that no one is safe until we are all safe,” said Maio.