Sarah Trafton is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the Greene County Legislature Public Safety Committee March 15 unanimously approved the county Police Reform and Reinvention plan without discussion. Recommendations for the county sheriff's office contained in the plan include increased recruiting efforts, upgrading the department’s record management system, body cameras and a Community Advocate Committee to review complaints. The plan was developed pursuant to a June state executive order requiring all municipalities with a police agency to conduct a review of police policies and procedures and to develop an improvement plan in an effort to address the needs of the community. The Greene County Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative met 10 times before the plan was released; seven of the 10 meetings were not open to the public. The group looked at a variety of issues including how officers respond to mental health or substance abuse calls, how the sheriff’s office works with other community agencies, and use of force and bias training. At the March 10 public hearing, Jewett resident Elide Bell asked lawmakers to delay approving the plan until more feedback could be gathered. “My request is that the draft submitted to the Legislature should not be accepted and we must do this again in a way that is accessible, equitable and transparent,” Bell said. She asked that if legislators chose to move forward regardless, that a public meeting be held first to discuss amendments and recommendations to be included in the draft. Bell’s recommendations included additional de-escalation training, in-person bias training by a community approved source, the adoption of a specific use-of-force policy and that the department adopt a policy of releasing complaints and disciplinary records of officers annually. The full Legislature is expected to vote on the reform plan at its full meeting March 17. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.