🛡️ Police Advisory Committee (PAC)
Police plan summer soccer event to engage Latino residents
The Croton Police Advisory Committee outlined plans for a summer soccer event at Croton Landing and explored ESL classes to better engage the village's Latino community. The committee also addressed ongoing noise complaints at The Grand, with police increasing weekend patrols, and discussed sharing police information via a Spanish-language Facebook page.
◆ Key Actions & Decisions
- **Resolutions Passed:** None
- **Resolutions Failed:** None
- **Applications Reviewed:** None
- **Public Comments:**
- **Gustavo Delgado (Resident):** Reported that noise complaints at The Grand have not stopped; shared details of a racist incident he experienced at Shoprite several weeks ago involving a woman in her 70s; proposed ideas for community engagement including a holiday raffle basket, ESL classes, and a Q&A video with Officer Jandres for his Spanish-language Facebook page.
- **Reports:**
- **Community Outreach (Facebook):** Officer Jandres will share Village police information on Mr. Delgado's Spanish-language Facebook page (serving primarily Ecuadorian and Guatemalan audiences). Mr. Delgado will add Officer Jandres as an Admin. Trustee Nicholson will share this initiative with the IDEA committee.
- **Information Packets:** Carolyn Whiting will contact Croton Caring about including a police information packet (Chief's welcome letter, PAC letter, emergency alert system info) in springtime food boxes.
- **Noise at The Grand:** Chief Nikitopoulos urged residents to call in noise complaints (anonymously if preferred) and stated officers will actively check the area on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
- **Translation Services:** Confirmed all officers can use Siri on iPhones or equivalent apps on Androids for translation; no separate desk system is needed.
- **Meet and Greet Event:** PAC and PD will investigate hosting a one-time soccer event (children's and adult games) at Croton Landing over the summer, potentially with a free ice cream truck. Carolyn Whiting will notify the Village Manager, Recreation Advisory Committee, and Recreation Department. The PAC will further discuss this on January 15, 2026.
- **ESL Classes:** Chief Nikitopoulos will discuss the possibility of hosting ESL classes with School Superintendent Stephen Walker, potentially through the school's Continuing Education program or at the Community Room/Methodist church basement. Proposed guest speakers include police explaining ICE policy and traffic stops, and an immigration attorney.
- **Racist Incident:** Chief Nikitopoulos confirmed the PD is aware of the woman involved in the Shoprite incident; while the language used is not illegal, the woman has been banned from the store.
- **Officer Jandres School Reading:** Officer Jandres is coordinating with the school to read to elementary students in Spanish. Carolyn Whiting suggested filming a simple iPhone video of him reading in a police car, similar to a popular Greenburgh PD pandemic initiative.
- **ICE Policy:** Chief Nikitopoulos noted the Croton PD ICE policy wording may need to be altered to align with Lexipol and Accreditation requirements, and will discuss this with Manager Healy.
Croton’s Police Advisory Committee (PAC) is stepping up efforts to bridge the gap between local law enforcement and the village’s Latino community, rolling out plans for a summer soccer event at Croton Landing and exploring English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
The initiatives emerged from a productive January 8 meeting featuring resident Gustavo Delgado, who has been working with the committee to improve communication and trust. Delgado noted that while Ossining holds regular meetings for its Latino residents, Croton does not, and he suggested a sporting event would be the most effective way to bring the community together.
The proposed summer event at Croton Landing would feature children’s and adult soccer games. While officers won’t play due to liability concerns over injuries, they will attend to interact with residents. The committee is also considering bringing in a free ice cream truck, similar to the setup used at National Night Out.
“Croton PD and PAC will investigate hosting a one time soccer game / event over the summer,” the minutes noted, with PAC member Carolyn Whiting tasked with informing the Village Manager and Recreation Department. The committee is set to discuss logistics further on January 15.
To improve day-to-day communication, Officer Edwin Jandres will be added as an administrator on Delgado’s Spanish-language Facebook page, which reaches an audience largely from Ecuador and Guatemala. Delgado cautioned that sharing village events on his page could draw crowds from well beyond Croton, meaning larger venues might be needed for advertised events. Additionally, the committee hopes to tuck police information—including the Chief’s welcome letter and emergency alert system details—into Croton Caring’s springtime food boxes.
Delgado also raised ongoing quality-of-life concerns, reporting that noise complaints at The Grand have not stopped. In response, Chief John Nikitopoulos urged neighbors to call the police when it gets loud—anonymous complaints are accepted—and pledged that officers will actively patrol the area on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights.
Delgado also shared a personal account of a racist incident at Shoprite involving a woman in her 70s. Chief Nikitopoulos confirmed police are aware of the individual; while her language isn't illegal, she has been banned from the store.
Looking ahead, Chief Nikitopoulos will discuss launching ESL classes with School Superintendent Stephen Walker. Delgado suggested the classes could double as community forums, featuring guest speakers like immigration attorneys and police officers explaining ICE policies and traffic stop procedures.
Residents experiencing noise issues at The Grand are encouraged to call the police department at the time of the disturbance. The PAC will continue these discussions at its next meeting on January 15, 2026.