Budgeted Westchester County Police Positions Go Unfilled

[Architect 24]

Quote

During lengthy negotiations with lawmakers about the 2016 budget, Astorino agreed to add back three county police positions at a net cost of $219,000. He had taken a hard-line stance on the pledge not to increase the county tax levy, and legislators lobbied to restore proposed cuts as the county faced a budgeting shortfall due to less-than-expected sales tax revenue.

 

Almost immediately after the deal, Astorino said he was prepared to leave the police positions and others unfilled as a way to balance the budget. There are 330 budgeted positions in the department, according to the 2016 budget.

 

There are roughly 2,700 officers in Westchester when factoring city, town and village departments, according to the administration — staffing levels the executive said are adequate to ensure public safety.

Astorino spokesman Ned McCormack said there are no plans to fill the positions at this time, but the budgeted numbers allowed flexibility if and when the need arises.

 

“We feel comfortable with the deployment we have now, that’s not to say the situation isn’t fluid,” he said.

 

 

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/local/westchester/2016/03/24/westchester-county-police/82091312/

[fire 1 asst chief 49]

Several years ago the Town of Ossining contracted with the County to provide  police protection for 5 years.  As part of the deal the County hired all of the Town of Ossining's police officers including the chief.  After the 5 years were up the Town of Ossining told the county they were moving on to the Village of Ossining for police protection.  That being said the County has all the former Town of Ossining police officers on staff no longer used to police the Town of Ossining.  Is there really a shortage?

[Oaks 18]

7 minutes ago, fire 1 asst chief said:

That being said the County has all the former Town of Ossining police officers on staff no longer used to police the Town of Ossining.  Is there really a shortage?

 

There are retirements between then and now creating vacancies, and I believe the contract was absorbed with the current amount of officers at the time.

 

Also, didn't some of the County PD officers that were hired when Ossining initially made the switch return to Ossining?

[Viper 139]

This is just another example of the County Executive Astorino saying one thing and doing another. He wants to make all these promises, he needs to keep them. 

[velcroMedic1987 330]

This is nothing new.  The county uses budget lines to balance budgets all the time.

They have done the same thing in just about every department.  Three lines in Public Safety isn't really that much.

 

Of course, Astorino's son in law still has his job there so...

[calhobs 110]

I am going to say the evil word. CONSOLIDATION, we speak of this on Fire and EMS. Why not on Police? There are so many police departments within short distance of each other, why not merge them?

Edited March 25, 2016 by calhobs