Syracuse Citizen Review Board News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

On Behalf of The Syracuse Citizen Review Board

April 18, 2024

As the details surrounding the deaths of Syracuse Police Officer Michael E. Jensen and Sherriff's Lieutenant Michael Hoosock continue to come into focus, the Syracuse Citizen Review Board (CRB) and its members wish to join our community in expressing our heartfelt condolences to Officer Jensen and Lieutenant Hoosock's families, our enormous gratitude to these men for their service and sacrifice, and our profound sadness for the toll this tragedy continues to visit on our community.

The CRB is a volunteer board consisting entirely of Syracuse City residents. These board members are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of our Mayor and Common Council. Our mission is to act as an independent civilian oversight relative to police activity.

Disagreements sometimes arise between groups charged with oversight and the groups they oversee. CRB and law enforcement have disagreed at times. But those disagreements are the exception: CRB and law enforcement consistently work together towards fulfilling our commonly held goals. We want the same thing – to live in a community where safety and justice prevail. The CRB holds tremendous respect for law enforcement and the enormous good that law enforcement confers on our community.

Good – as compared to the evil Officer Jensen and Lieutenant Hoosock confronted that Sunday night. Just like with so many other tragic examples involving law enforcement or indeed any first responder, these men ran right into harm's way without any hesitation. They did it for their family, their friends, their neighbors, for the people they never met but kept safe anyway. They did it for all of us. Officer Jensen and Lieutenant Hoosock are heroes. They will be forever missed.

On behalf of the Citizen Review Board, we would like to thank you for attending our march, April 2, 2024. Your presence at the march for police accountability speaks volumes about your commitment to justice, transparency, and the well-being of our society. We united as a community with a common purpose—to demand accountability and reform within our law enforcement agencies. Your decision to join us in the march sends a powerful message that together, we can create meaningful change. Here is a photo recap of the march. 

CRB Week, taking place from April 2nd to 7th 2024, celebrates the vital role of the Syracuse Citizen Review Board (CRB) in promoting accountability, transparency, and justice in law enforcement. Throughout the week, the community will come together to celebrate the contributions of the CRB, engage in dialogue about police oversight, and highlight the importance of civilian involvement in shaping policing policies. From a march to an Open House and outreach events, CRB Week serves as a platform for fostering trust between the Syracuse Police Department (SPD) and the communities they serve. It's a time to reflect on progress made, address ongoing challenges, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring fair and equitable policing practices for all.

Click here(PDF, 4MB) to view the flyer!

We are happy to announce that we have officially moved to the 5th floor of the One Park Place building. Located at 300 South State Street, Syracuse, New York 13202. All visitors and complainants must check in with the 7th floor security and one of our office staff personal will meet you up there to bring you to our new office. 

Feel free to call in at any time to schedule an in-person appointment to make a complaint or even leave an officer compliment. We look forward to seeing you all in our new office.