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Albany Mayor-elect Dorcey Applyrs and Interim Police Chief Brendan Cox will make an important announcement today (Thursday, December 11) at the Metropolitan Baptist Church on Second Street. They plan to outline steps to enhance safety and build trust between the community and law enforcement. The announcement is scheduled for 11:45 a.m. and will be streamed on CBS6 Albany's YouTube page and website.
The city of Albany is focusing on public safety by installing more license plate readers, increasing hires, conducting overtime training, and advocating for changes in discovery laws at the state level. Recent data from Governor Kathy Hochul's office shows a decrease in shootings with injuries in Albany, with seven incidents reported between January and April.
Interim Chief Cox, who returned from retirement last December, has not confirmed if he will continue in his role under Applyrs' administration. "I'll leave that for a conversation with the mayor-elect," Cox said. Cox has been involved in addressing community concerns, including an internal investigation into an officer's actions during a November incident outside the Albany Public Library. The investigation is ongoing, and Cox expressed confidence that the department will improve as a result.
Mayor Kathy Sheehan, who decided not to seek re-election, and Mayor-elect Applyrs have both supported a thorough investigation into the library incident. The city's Community Police Review Board has opened a complaint but is unable to hold public meetings due to a lack of members. The Common Council is working to find candidates to appoint to the board.