Many Newburgh residents are joining city council members in celebrating a small police reform victory: A new law that will require all city police officers to identify themselves during all interactions with the public.

Known as the Right to Know Law, the unanimously approved measure requires officers to share their names each time they have contact with someone. If the contact does not lead to a citation or arrest, an officer must provide the subject with a business card.

“It’s like a walking sign on them now,” food truck operator Omar McKenzie told Spectrum News Tuesday. “There’s supposed to be a straight line between both of us — a smooth line of communication.”

At-Large Councilman Omari Shakur, who lobbied hard for the law’s approval, called it “a good first step” to repair trust between the police and the people. “We’re trying time change the face of our police right now,” he said during an interview Tuesday.

Councilman Shakur, a vocal critic of city police said officers might be less likely to search subjects without cause if the officers know they would have to provide their contact information.

“We’re changing that blue wall of silence, changing the interaction with the community,” he said. “We’re trying to work to put something together where we have a better community, a better police department.”

At Monday’s city council meeting, some council members said they were concerned that the actual implementation of the law may take several months.

Officials said the lag could be more than 80 days, because the city must work with local police unions to set clear guidelines and penalties for officers who do not comply.

Spectrum News has placed several calls to the department’s Officer in Charge, Lt. Kevin Lahar seeking comment on several police reform matters including the Right to Know Law, but he has not responded.

Lt. Lahar is also the president of the Police Superior Officers Association, the union that represents high-ranking officers.

Council members and administrators have been hustling to find a permanent chief since the April resignation of now-former chief Doug Solomon. 

Also at Monday’s meeting, the council approved a one-year contract with Robert McLymore to modernize the department, address racial bias, and diversify the 84-officer force. McLymore, a lieutenant with Town of Wallkill Police, hails from Newburgh and is active in community service.

He will consult for the incoming chief on changes that must be completed by early next year, per a recent order from Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Several city sources say that new chief is going to be Butch Amthor, a former Newburgh deputy chief who has served with several other local police departments.

Those sources said the city is arranging for Amthor to transfer back to his old position of deputy chief and being promoted to chief after six months.