SPW1000

Is it normal for the Director of Economic Development & Tourism to call town hall "my building" and police cameras in the lobby? Why do so many public employees refer to public property as theirs? MY building. MY highway. MY streets. In December 2021, Sean Paul Reyes (Long Island Audit) entered Orangetown Town Hall in Orangetown, NY (Rockland County) to film publicly accessible areas and file a FOIL request with the Town Clerk. Carmel Reilly, Director of Economic Development & Tourism for the Town of Orangetown, confronted him. She claimed the building was “hers,” demanded he have a filming permit, stated that she issues permits for the Town of Orangetown, and referenced a potential $5,000 fine. She cited the town’s commercial filming rules under Chapter 14C of the Town Code. Orangetown Police Officer Kalaf arrived. He ordered Reyes to leave, demanded he turn off or hand over his camera/phone, and went hands-on attempting to take the device. Reyes refused, asserted he was lawfully recording in a public building, and repeatedly requested a supervisor. A sergeant later responded. Reyes filed a formal civilian/IA complaint against Officer Kalaf with the Orangetown Police Department, completed his FOIL request, and left. In the internal affairs report the officer reportedly justified the hands-on action by citing officer-safety concerns involving possible guns disguised as cell phones. No arrest occurred. Reyes completed his audit. ❓Why did Carmel Reilly, who claimed she issued them, insist a permit was required for personal recording inside a town hall lobby? ❓Does “officer safety” justify grabbing someone’s phone because it might theoretically be a gun?