Albany Community Police Review Board member resigns
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- A member of the Albany Community Police Review Board (CPRB) has resigned immediately after previous arrest reports and allegations were brought to light. Board member Milton Arroyo resigned Monday night.
"Following the discovery of past allegations about Community Police Review Board (CPRB) member Milton Arroyo, the Chair of the CPRB and the Albany Common Council are united in accepting Mr. Arroyo's immediate resignation from the Board," The Albany City Common Council stated.
According to Albany Common Council meeting minutes, Arroyo interviewed for the board position on August 15. He was appointed on September 12, almost a month later.
According to NEWS10's sister station WFLA, Arroyo served as a New York State Police Officer for 21 years before being hired in Pasco County, Florida in 2015.
However, in 2017 during his time at the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Arroyo was subject to an internal affairs investigation, which led to his firing and arrest. According to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office, Arroyo was employed as a High School Resource Officer at Fivay High School during the investigation.
Deputies said an investigation revealed he allegedly used the social media platform Snapchat to have lewd conversations with female students. WFLA reported Arroyo had shared his personal phone number and social media accounts with several female students and began having conversations with them. He wasn't charged as deputies said he was "dancing on that line" between legal and illegal and hadn’t done anything explicitly illegal, WFLA said.
But he was then arrested in July 2017 for illegally using a law enforcement database to get information about a woman he reportedly was interested in. Arroyo was arraigned at the Land O' Lakes Detention Center on a $5,000 bond for the felony charge.
In its response to the allegations, the Common Council is reviewing its application and vetting processes.
"The City of Albany has a zero-tolerance policy and Council leadership is working with the administration to review and amend all policies and procedures regarding appointments to City boards and commissions to ensure that applicants for all boards and commissions have a more rigid vetting process," the Common Council stated further.
The CPRB reviews and investigates complaints of alleged misconduct committed by Albany Police Department officers. Arroyo's term was scheduled to expire in 2027.
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