KATHLEEN RICE ATTORNEY GENERAL * NY July 6, 2010 Governor David A. Paterson VIA FAX TO 518-474-1513 Dear Governor Paterson: I'm writing to urge you to sign A11177/S794Sa, a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Eric Adams that would prevent the New York Police Department from retaining, in an electronic database, the personal information of people who are stopped, questioned and released without being accused of a crime. ‘There is no doubt that this database remains one of the most alarming aspects of the application of the NYPD’s stop-and-frisk policy. The database, disproportionately filled with people of color, does little to reduce crime. Most importantly, such a database significantly worsens relations between law enforcement agencies and the communities they are sworn to protect. It is these relationships that provide the most effective foundation for successful law enforcement and crime reduction. | fully support this legislation as a way to dismantle this database and to restore the privacy of law-abiding New Yorkers caught in the net of this program. We must continue to support policies and initiatives that decrease crime, protect the civil liberties of our state’s residents, and focus on building relationships between communities and police that we know lead to safer neighborhoods, These have been my priorities during my time as district attorney. In my county we have seen reductions in crime that would not have been possible without forging these relationships. Erosion in the integrity of these partnerships would almost certainly compromise the public safety progress we have made by working wi local clergy. community members, educators and neighborhood organizations. The trust we have built between our communities and law enforcement agencies has led to safer neighborhoods. Such gains cannot be matched through the use of a ‘stop-and-frisk’ database, and will almost certainly be negated by unnecessary invasions of privacy and the appearance of racial profiling or bias. While I know the NYPD applies resources towards community policing like this, the public’s safety would be better protected by expanding such efforts, rather than compiling the database addressed in this legislation. As the district attorney of Nassau County and as a candidate for attomey general, I am confident that this database is wrong for New York and urge you to sign A11177/S7945a without delay Sincerely, Kathleen M. Rice Nassau County Distriet Attorney cc Hakeem Jeffries via fax Eric Adams via fax www.kathleenrice.com Kathleen Rice 2010 + P.O, Box 20956 + New York, NY 10129