Draw a line between police and politics

There has always been a sense of unease about police and other government employees being involved directly in politics and electioneering while on the job.

It’s why the Hatch Act limits certain political activities of many federal workers, including FBI agents. It’s part of the perennial Long Island debate about uniformed police officers appearing with candidates, as happened in 2015 with Nassau County District Attorney hopeful Kate Murray, a Republican. 

On Monday, a “safety town hall” with 3rd Congressional District candidate George Santos provided the latest installment. A Glen Cove GOP listing and Nassau County Police Department Instagram announcement said that Commissioner Patrick Ryder would be a "special guest" and “guest speaker,” respectively, at the Glen Cove event. Ryder did not end up attending, according to NCPD spokesman Rich LeBrun. But two NCPD members did.

Jeffrey Raymond, a key Ryder aide and head of the department’s burglary squad, can be heard on an audio recording apologizing on Ryder’s behalf for his absence. Images posted on social media by Santos show Second Precinct Commanding Officer Inspector Gus Kalin wearing a uniform and speaking in front of Santos campaign signs.

Both Raymond and Kalin talked at length — and neutrally — about their backgrounds, crime patterns, and anti-crime tips. Raymond repeated that he didn’t want to get “political” but also addressed and gave opinions on controversial criminal justice issues, like bail and discovery, animating the campaigns of Santos and other New York Republicans.

There are subtleties here, and questions. Does the presence of officers at a dais with a candidate — not a currently elected official doing a public information presentation — imply a level of implicit endorsement? Should on-duty or uniformed members of what is essentially a paramilitary organization serve as props for a candidate? The police commissioner is a political appointee of the Nassau County executive, but how much participation in partisan politics is acceptable?

Various laws and codes touch on this general issue. Beyond the federal Hatch Act, which could apply here because the department receives federal funding, there is the Nassau County Charter which states “no officer or employee of the County shall use the resources of the County in furtherance of his or her business, professional or political interests or activities.” Opinions from the New York comptroller’s office about public funds used for political purposes cite a 1975 state court opinion claiming certain political activity by state agencies “can only demean the democratic process.”

County Executive Bruce Blakeman is now aware of the officers' participation, according to a spokesman, who said no uniformed officers would be at political events going forward unless for a security purpose.

That’s good. In Suffolk County, similar concerns about police at political events have prompted calls for a local Hatch Act. Continued confusion about this issue suggests it’s time to clearly spell out what’s forbidden in the mix of police and politics.