Police Reform&Reinvention Collaborative Committee

Mayor Bill Keeler announced the establishment of a 14-member panel that will conduct a wide-ranging review of Cohoes Police Department rules, regulations, policies and procedures on October 14, 2020.  The commission will meet publicly from October through March with an eye toward modifying and modernizing existing guidelines.  

The City of Cohoes ‘Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative Committee’ was formed in accordance with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 203, dated June 20, 2020, which requires each municipality in the State that has a police department to adopt a policing reform plan by April 1, 2021.  The Order authorizes the Director of the Division of Budget to condition State aid to localities on the adoption of such a plan.

“This commission will undertake a comprehensive overview of our current police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures and practices, for the purposes of addressing the specific needs of the people of Cohoes”, Mayor Keeler said in making the announcement. 

“Our committee will look at a wide-range of issues, including but not limited to, use of force policies, de-escalation training, procedural justice and racial justice in policing.  I look forward to engaging and partnering with the community,” Chief Waldin stated.

“I’m grateful that these talented citizens are so enthusiastically volunteering their time and energy to help make a good police department even better”, Keeler added

Committee Member

  • Brenda Baddam, Attorney
  • Adam Biggs, City Councilmember, Chair of Public Safety Committee
  • Francisco Calderon, Attorney
  • Venessa Colon, Specialist, NYS Office of Diversity and Inclusion Management
  • Bill Keeler, Mayor 
  • Collen Mayo, Tenant Commissioner, Cohoes Housing Autority
  • Katherine Oliver, Executive Director, Cohoes Housing Authority
  • Joseph Sorel, Executive Board Member, Cohoes Police Officers Union
  • Laura Tarlo, Cohoes High School Principal
  • Todd Waldin, Chief of Police
  • Benjamin Williams, Executive Director, Cohoes Connect Center for Youth
  • Kizzy Williams, Business Owner, Allie B's Cozy Kitchen
  • Robbin Williams, Albany County Sheriff's Office/Corrections (Retired)
  • Kaitlyn Wood, Pastor, United Church of Cohoes
Police Reform Reinvention Committee Image 2

Meetings

Date Time Location
Monday, March 8, 2021 5:30 PM Cohoes City Hall, Common Council Chambers 2nd Floor
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 5:30 PM via go to meeting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/826526877
Tuesday, February 9, 2021  5:30 PM via go to meeting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/186888789
Tuesday, January 26, 2021 5:30pm via go to meeting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/486095757
Tuesday, December 22, 2020 6:00pm via go to meeting https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/964615685
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 5:00pm Cohoes City Hall, Common Council Chamber 2nd Floor
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 5:00pm Cohoes City Hall, Common Council Chamber 2nd Floor
Tuesday, October 27, 2020 6:00pm Cohoes City Hall, Common Council Chambers 2nd Floor
Tuesday, November 24, 2020 Meeting
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 Meeting 
Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Meeting Part Two
Tuesday, October 27, 2020 Meeting Part One