Suffolk Police Latino Liaison Officer Post To 'Build Relationships'

YAPHANK, NY — Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison has appointed a Latino Liaison Officer, a position aimed at continuing to build relationships between the police and Latino residents, according to a police news release.

Officer Yasmin Gallant, a member of the department since 2017, was most recently assigned as the Community Liaison Officer for the 5th Precinct in Patchogue. In her new role, the bi-lingual Gallant will conduct proactive outreach with residents, businesses, schools, and houses of worship and regularly attend community meetings and events.

Her role will be two-fold, including providing information to the community, as well as listening to their concerns, department officials said. She is available to help individuals understand their rights in domestics and landlord/tenant disputes, as well as provide direction on how to file a police report or a complaint, according to officials.

Gallant will meet regularly with Harrison to relay any concerns or misinformation in the community and offer solutions to bridge the gap, officials said.

Harrison said Gallant "has already made a difference locally as a Community Liaison Officer, as well as in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Fiona where she brought supplies and volunteered to help residents.”

“She is the right person for this job as she brings understanding and knowledge and I believe the department’s relationships with the Latino community will become even stronger," he said.

Gallant said she is honored for the assignment "to such an important, meaningful role."

"My hope is to develop relationships between the department and the Latino community as well as keep lines of communication open," she said. "We are listening and we want to know what is happening in your community."

County Executive Steve Bellone said, "Building relationships between the police department and the residents it serves was one of the key components of the 2021 Suffolk County Police Reform and Reinvention Plan."

As part of the plan, reforms included officers wearing body cameras, a mental health 911 call program, placing civilians at the front desks of precincts, and civilian oversight through the Human Rights Commission.

Bellone commended Commissioner Harrison for continuing to implement the reforms of the plan and for appointing Gallant as Latino Liaison Officer, "continuing to highlight the importance of fostering community relationships.”

Gallant can be reached directly by calling 934-85-APOYO to discuss individual or community matters.