Spectrum News is getting a look at the Niagara County Sheriff's Office's plan for police reform, as part of Governor Andrew Cuomo's executive order requiring local governments start police reform initiatives.

Sheriff Mike Filicetti says the plan focuses on things like mental health partnerships, crisis intervention, and anti-bias training.

One strategy in the works includes ride-alongs with mental health professionals to learn how to respond to mental health calls. Another includes using tablets in the field to connect with mental health professionals when they're needed.

Sheriff Filicetti says his office is also working to get offenders with addictions or mental health issues the help they need instead of going to court.

Filicetti says the most important thing is the need for community engagement, accountability, and transparency.

"I can't stress how important it is to interact in the community that you police,” Filicetti said. “I just think the more people interact with us the better the relationships are, and it's certainly not just for recruiting but it does help when you can garner interest in the field of law enforcement."

Filicetti says in terms of transparency, information on use of force, arrests, and calls for service is now available on the sheriff's office website.