Page 29 - Hakoba Times

JUNE 12, 2020 | NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline | The Indian Eye 29

legislator solages seeks probe

into former nCpd officer recorded directing

racist slurs at Civil rights protesters

Our BureAu ward Serrao, and any testimony he may obvious racial bias and there is serious
have provided as a Nassau County police concern that such bias may have affected
MINEOLA, N.Y. officer, for evidence of racial hostility. the way he carried out his official duties,
assau County Legislator Carrié So- The disturbing video of the former of- including testimony that he provided un-
lages (D – Valley Stream), Rank- ficer antagonizing protestors was posted to der oath,” Legislator Solages wrote in his
Ning Member of the Legislature’s Twitter on June 4, according to published letter. “Convictions secured against mi-
Minority Affairs committee, is calling for reports. During a subsequent interview nority defendants based on former officer
a review of the past conduct of a recent- with a Newsday reporter, Serrao was re- Serrao’s testimony could be tainted by the
ly retired police officer who was recorded ported to have repeatedly used the N-word blatant racism that he displayed.”
making derogatory remarks and yelling the and additional racist language while refus- Therefore, Legislator Solages conclud-
N-word at protestors during a peaceful civil ing to apologize. County Executive Curran ed, “I respectfully request that Nassau
rights demonstration in Merrick. and Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder County and the Nassau County District At-
In a Tuesday, June 9 letter to Nassau have denounced the former officer’s con- torney’s Office review former officer Ser-
County Executive Laura Curran and Dis- duct and said he has been off the force for rao’s arrest record and conviction record
trict Attorney Madeline Singas, Legislator more than two years. and any testimonies he may have given as a
Solages urged officials to conduct a review “While it is important not to paint all Nassau County Police officer for racial hos-
of the arrest and conviction record of the police officers with a broad brush, in my tility, and take appropriate action should
officer, identified in media reports as Ed- opinion, former officer Serrao displayed any be found.”

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