New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is repeating his vow to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate deaths of unarmed civilians by police if state lawmakers fail to enact his bill authorizing a monitor to review questionable cases.

Cuomo, in an open letter to legislators, says Monday the basic problem of mistrust between police and minority communities needs to be addressed this year.

Noting he currently has the power to appoint a full-time special prosecutor through the attorney general’s office for all such cases, he’s promising to use it if the Legislature does nothing.

His bill would authorize the governor to appoint a monitor to review such cases handled, which would still be handled by local prosecutors, when there are “reasonable doubts as to the fairness” of the grand jury proceedings.

(AP)