In a collaborative effort aimed at enhancing police services for those not proficient in English, the Freeport, NY Police Department (FPD) has joined forces with the Department of Justice (DOJ) under a new Voluntary Technical Assistance Agreement. Announced by United States Attorney Breon Peace and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Kristen Clarke, this agreement sets a precedent as the first of its kind under DOJ's Law Enforcement Language Access Initiative (LELAI), as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.
The initiative, launched in December 2022, aims to support law enforcement agencies in addressing language barriers with the public. According to an announcement from the Eastern District of New York U.S. Attorney's Office, the FPD has proactively partnered with the DOJ, not as a result of any complaint or investigation but from a mutual commitment to develop effective language access services for its LEP community members. Breon Peace underlined, “It is critically important that law enforcement can communicate effectively with members of the community, regardless of the language that they speak. Working collaboratively with FPD, we will improve public safety for all and hope to replicate this agreement with other law enforcement agencies throughout the Eastern District of New York.”
The two-year agreement involves the DOJ assisting FPD in building a comprehensive language access program, reflecting their shared objectives of promoting officer and public safety, effective crime control, reliable evidence collection, and fostering community trust. Assistance will include development of policies, procedures, and training for interpretation and translation protocols, among other facets of the language access program. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke states, "The Civil Rights Division will continue to work cooperatively with law enforcement agencies across the country that seek to remove language barriers in policing," as noted by the U.S. Attorney's Office press release.
LELAI serves as a national effort with resources and tools designed to aid law enforcement agencies in providing meaningful language access to individuals with LEP. By engaging agencies willing to review and reinforce their language policies and training, the initiative supports efforts to build stronger relationships between law enforcement, community stakeholders, and LEP populations. More information about LELAI along with other civil rights initiatives is accessible on the DOJ's websites for the public and agencies seeking assistance.
This landmark agreement was managed by Eastern District of New York Assistant U.S. Attorneys Megan Freismuth, Michael Goldberger, and Dara Olds of the Civil Rights Team. Community members curious about the EDNY U.S. Attorney's Office Civil Rights work or potential civil rights violations can find additional information and reporting avenues through the respective links on the DOJ's civil rights web pages.
