In an effort to improve relations between its police department and the public, the Town of Shawangunk board unanimously approved a “Right to Know” policy at its June 3 meeting that will require its police officers to identify themselves whenever they interact with the public.

The newly adopted procedures would require officers who stop anyone in the course of an investigation on the street or during a traffic stop to provide their name, rank, police department and the reason for the interaction.

If the individual isn’t arrested or given a summons, town police officers then must offer the person who was questioned the officer’s department issued business card that includes his or her name, rank, badge number and department contact information. The incident number related to the interaction also must be provided if it is available.
Officers don’t have to comply with this policy if they are engaged in an approved undercover activity or operation if the interaction with the subject is part of an undercover activity or operation.

The procedure also wouldn’t apply if a police officer encountered resistance, flight or other factors that rendered the procedure impractical.

According to the written policy, the purpose is “to increase transparency in Town of Shawangunk Police Department policies and to build trust between police officers and members of the community.”

Supervisor John Valk said the “Right to Know” policy was “something the Police Reform Committee had talked about as their first priority.”
Following the meeting, Councilman Brian Amthor told the Wallkill Valley Times that the new policy of having officers hand out department issued business cards would be helpful for a number of reasons.

“I think it’s great because the people who are involved in the situation know who to call and will know the name of the officer for positive or negative feedback,” he said. “If it’s a first-time situation and people don’t know what to do, our department will have the business cards that will help guide them in the right direction. It’s more of a service to help educate and inform our residents how to handle and deal with certain situations.”
In other news, Town Clerk Jane Rascoe said the Ulster County Clerk’s office had informed her that the Department of Motor Vehicle mobile unit would begin resuming regular service outside the town hall in July after being out of service for over a year due to the pandemic. Service will be on a first come, first served basis.

Ulster County Clerk Nina Postupack confirmed in an interview with the Wallkill Valley Times that the mobile unit would resume service to the Town of Shawangunk on July 9. The bus will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

“It will be walk-up,” Postupack said. “There will be no appointments. Of course, we will be social distancing and will be requiring masks for unvaccinated individuals. If you’re vaccinated, you can come onto the bus without a mask. We understand that Wallkill is a distance from Kingston. We’re glad to be able to put the bus back onto the road to our six different towns in the county.”

Eagle Scout candidate Nevin Cannistra made a presentation to the board detailing the rehabilitation project he completed at the Elleisons Chapel Cemetery. Cannistra, a member of Boy Scout Troop 02 in Pine Bush, cleaned up the cemetery, repaired several gravestones, added fencing, built a bench and erected a new sign as part of his Eagle Scout project.

“Originally, I was attracted by the veterans’ graves because I wanted to do something with the U.S. Military since I’m planning on going into the United States Marine Corps,” Cannistra said. “But also the cemetery needed a lot of work and it was kind of sad that it wasn’t tended to, especially since a lot of the ancestors and relatives of the local residents around there are buried there. I thought it would be nice to rehabilitate it.”

Tshering Sherpa, president of the Queens-based United Sherpa Association, asked the board for its approval for a July 4th celebration the group was planning at 184 River Road. She estimated 300 to 350 people would be attending the day-long event.

Valk told Sherpa that as long as the event would draw fewer than 500 attendees it would not need board approval. Sherpa invited the board to attend the event.

In a brochure that the group distributed at the meeting, it describes the United Sherpa Association as a non-political, tax-exempt charitable organization.

“Our mission is to preserve and promote socio-cultural heritages of the immigrant indigenous communities by developing a common platform and creating opportunities,” the brochure read.