The Westchester County Department of Public Safety has reduced overtime by about 25 percent in the first quarter of 2010 under a consolidation plan implemented by County Executive Robert P. Astorino and Commissioner George N. Longworth.
The consolidation plan, which streamlines Public Safety's operations and services and reduces the need for overtime, is estimated to save approximately $1 million this year.
"Every department in county government is being asked to do more with less," Astorino said. "This reorganization has already resulted in more efficient and cost-effective operations at the Department of Public Safety."
Overtime was reduced by 17 percent in January, 26 percent in February and 30 percent in March compared to the same months the year before, Longworth said. He announced the overtime savings Monday at a promotion ceremony for three members of the county police.
To reflect increased responsibilities under the reorganization plan, Captain John Hodges, a 25-year veteran, was promoted to the rank of chief inspector. He will serve as Chief of Operations and oversee the Department's Patrol, Investigative and Special Operations divisions.
The rank of chief inspector carries a stipend above captain's pay, but since Hodges will no longer be eligible for overtime, the promotion carries no added budgetary expense. Longworth said no one will be promoted to captain in Hodges' place.
Sgt. Gerald Steckmeister was promoted to lieutenant and Police Officer Anthony Morizio was promoted to sergeant to fill vacant supervisory positions in the department.
Under the consolidation plan, the Department of Public Safety has:
- Reassigned one lieutenant and 18 police officers/detectives back to the Patrol Services Division to significantly reduce overtime costs
- Disbanded the Mounted Unit
- Merged the Crime Analysis Unit and the county police counter-terrorism functions into the Westchester Intelligence Center in White Plains
- Frozen all discretionary overtime
- Reduced the size of the Department fleet, including the number of "take-home cars" from 53 to 35
- Not filled existing vacancies
- Announced it will not fill vacancies expected to occur during the year due to retirements.
The Department head count has dropped from 276 officers in 2009 to 269, and about 10 retirements are anticipated this year.
"These changes achieve significant savings without compromising public safety or the core missions of the Westchester County Police," Longworth said.
Astorino and Longworth thanked District Attorney Janet DiFiore for supporting the merger of the Crime Analysis Unit into the Westchester Intelligence Center.
That consolidation places all criminal and counter-terrorism intelligence functions under one roof to eliminate duplication of services and further improve the flow of communications among law enforcement agencies in Westchester, Longworth said. It also permitted the county police to reduce the size of the Crime Analysis Unit by two investigators and not fill the vacant position of Director of Intelligence, Security and Counter-Terrorism.
The Westchester Intelligence Center, which is supervised by the District Attorney's Office, began operations in early 2008. The center includes investigators from the DA's office, detectives from the Department of Public Safety and civilian crime analysts.
"Accessible by every police department in the county, the Westchester Intelligence Center collaboratively supports the work of local police agencies," DiFiore said. "On a daily basis, investigative leads are developed, the whereabouts of suspects are located, and analysis of the kind to support intelligence-led policing is pursued. The work conducted by the Intel Center allows for police to spend more time in the field rather than behind a computer screen, better serving our communities."