The union representing Westchester County police said public safety is at risk because officials have left too many supervisory positions vacant in the department.
They said there are only five captains instead of eight, 15 lieutenants down from 20 and 43 sergeants instead of 48 following an unprecedented period of retirements by experienced supervisors in recent years.
"Every retirement represents decades of knowledge, judgement and leadership that cannot simply be replaced overnight," said Wilberto Saez, president of the Westchester County Police PBA at a press conference Friday, July 31, outside police headquarters in Hawthorne. "While the county continues hiring police officers, replacing the experience has been increasingly difficult."
Catherine
Cioffi, a county spokeswoman, said Westchester is safer than its been in a decade and that the county will move ahead with sergeant promotions once a new deputy police commissioner is appointed. She said that each of the divisions have a captain but did not address the number of captain and lieutenant positions that remain vacant.
Although the union insisted their pitch was not about politics or contract negotiations, Cioffi said the union has sought arbitration and that will be where discussions of promotions will be hammered out. The current police contract expired at the end of 2023.
"Westchester County remains one of the safest counties in New York State because of the professionalism and dedication of the men and women who serve in law enforcement," she said. "We are grateful for their service and their commitment to protecting our residents. We remain ready to negotiate in good faith."
Saez sought to remind residents and county officials that the county police department is not just about patrolling the parkways. He cited the SWAT, bomb squad, forensics and accident investigation units as well as the Real Time Crime Center that coordinates with departments across the county in major incidents and complex investigations.
"Experienced leaders are increasingly being pulled away from specialized public safety assignments simply to maintain minimal patrol staffing," Saez said.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester PBA insists supervisor vacancies strain public safety
