CROTON-ON-HUDSON — The village's Police Advisory Committee has endorsed red-light cameras for Croton and called for a public information campaign explaining every government camera in the village — what data they collect, who maintains it, and for how long. The positions emerged at the committee's March 12 meeting, where members also learned that the panel's memo requesting an outside police staffing consultant will be discussed at a future Village Board budget meeting. Along with the consultant, Chief of Police John Nikitopoulos is requesting three new officers for the department, according to the trustee liaison's report. A separate red-light camera memo remains before the board, which the report said is not yet at the point of discussing the issues it raises. The staffing push has been building for months. In November, the chief told the committee the department would seek two additional officers, a new sergeant's position and a consultant to advise on staffing levels. By January the ask had grown to three officers, with the chief explaining that Croton patrol officers work a rotating schedule that is the worst for officer health compared with the steady tours used by most Westchester County departments — a schedule believed to be a factor in recent departures from the department. The meeting opened with introductions as new members joined the panel, among them recently appointed Frank Pusatere. Committee member Carolyn Whiting reviewed the ground rules for social media: any committee post, or any post carrying committee information, must come through the Village Manager's office, and no PAC information may be posted without the manager's approval.

Cameras, explained

Government cameras have become a recurring topic on Croton social media, and the committee agreed an information campaign would help answer questions and stop rumors. Beyond data collection and retention, the campaign would make clear that cameras on school buses are not owned or operated by the village. Nikitopoulos reported that the small cameras atop electronic speed signs and similar devices are New York State traffic counting equipment owned by the state. On red-light cameras specifically, members briefly discussed research showing that accidents may increase when the cameras are used; the chief said that research data has been shared with the village manager. The committee said it is in favor of red-light cameras, and recommended the village post signage at its entrances warning drivers that the cameras are in use. The village has been granted home rule legislation allowing the installation of up to three red-light cameras, with the two exit ramps on Croton Point Avenue and the intersection of South Riverside and Municipal Place proposed by the chief, according to January minutes of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. Police body cameras, which the committee has tracked since at least November, are further off: the earliest they will be in use is October, and most likely later in the year, the minutes state.

Outreach plans

Officer Edwin Jandres has requested village permission for a village-approved Facebook profile that would allow the officer to post police information to a local Latino community Facebook page. A community soccer game is taking shape as a pickup-style event, with adults only this first year and additional ages possible in subsequent years. The number of games will depend on how many players show up; a date and location have not been set. The committee also moved ahead on proposed English as a Second Language classes, with the PAC as lead agency working alongside the police department and volunteers from the village. Class sizes will be determined once more is known about how the program would run and how many volunteers are available, with a follow-up discussion planned for June. Other items in the works: a letter for the Latino community to be included in Croton Caring food delivery boxes, which the chief is awaiting feedback on from the village manager; a plan for Jandres to read a story in Spanish to elementary students, on hold pending further information from the school; PAC assistance for the police department at Summerfest; and National Police Week events in May, which the committee is organizing with the Village Board set to attend. The youth police cadet program now counts 25 cadets, up from 15 signups in January. Two ideas remain on hold: a lending library of nonfiction police-topic books for officers, which the PBA has not yet discussed with the chief but will be revisited in June, and possible officer use of EPI pens, which awaits further information from medical professionals and would require additional yearly training. The PAC chair will arrange a meeting with police advisory committees in neighboring communities, and the police department will continue work on its flag design. Trustee Maria Slippen advised that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Committee is working on a "bicycle train" event, and the chief will contact that committee's chair about whether the police department should coordinate. On school resource officers, the committee reiterated that SROs can be initiated only by the school board, not the village. The chief is awaiting further conversation with the superintendent of schools about the PAC survey and potential school board interest; the discussion is a follow-up to 2025 community survey feedback, not an expressed desire to institute SROs, the minutes note. On civil rights enforcement, Nikitopoulos reported that patrol officers take the initial hate crime complaint and detectives follow up, and expressed satisfaction with the professional care and service victims receive.

The blotter

Responding to an information request from Susan Skrelja, of Truesdale Drive, the chief said the matter has been raised with the detective in charge of submitting the blotter to the village manager's office, and the blotter will be submitted in a timely manner. Some incidents never appear in the blotter because of an ongoing investigation or the nature of the crime, such as a sex crime. The chief also addressed a social media post claiming county police had made an arrest at the Maple Street smoke shop. Nikitopoulos reported speaking with the health department — the agency in charge of smoke shop violations — which said no such incident occurred, and with county police, who had no knowledge of any incident at that location. The committee meets next on June 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the courtroom of the Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building, with the ESL classes and the officer book library both due for follow-up.