December 3, 2018 – In an effort to save taxpayer dollars, Westchester County Executive George Latimer announced that the Westchester County Department of Public Safety will continue to handle 9-1-1 calls and dispatch duties for the Tuckahoe Police Department on the midnight shift under a renewed shared services agreement between Westchester County and the Village of Tuckahoe. The agreement comes at no cost to the County and saves Village of Tuckahoe taxpayers from further personnel costs.

Latimer said: “This agreement is a small example of how County government and local governments can partner in an effort to save taxpayer money. My Administration has made a more robust shared service plan a key in our efforts to reduce the burden placed on Westchester County taxpayers and this agreement with Tuckahoe can serve as a blueprint on how it is possible.”

The five-year extension of the agreement, approved today by the Board of Legislators, allows Tuckahoe to continue to save money by not having a desk officer on duty at police headquarters on the overnight shift. 

Tuckahoe Mayor Steven Ecklond said: “I am very pleased that County Executive George Latimer has agreed to extend this partnership for another five-year period. This cooperative shared service between the County and the Village has exceeded our expectations.  The financial savings to our Village residents has enabled us to place these resources towards other areas of public safety.  I also want to extend my gratitude to Commissioner Thomas Gleason of the Westchester County Department of Public Safety and his staff for the excellent ongoing support provided to our police department.”

Legislator Damon Maher (D - Eastchester, New Rochelle, Tuckahoe) said: "This is a great model for shared services between the County and local governments.  It's an enormous benefit for a small village like Tuckahoe -- in this particular case providing the equivalent of more than 3 full-time positions -- and it comes at no additional cost to the County."

Westchester County Police began dispatching Tuckahoe police officers on the midnight shift on Dec. 3, 2013, under an Inter-Municipal Agreement between the County and Village. The IMA came about when Tuckahoe was facing the possibility of having to reduce its patrol coverage on the midnight shift. By eliminating the need for a desk officer, the Tuckahoe Police Department was able to keep the same number of officers on the street.

All 911 calls or other telephone calls from the public to the Tuckahoe Police Department are handled by County police from midnight to 7:40 a.m., seven days a week. The County police also dispatch Tuckahoe officers as needed.

Anyone who comes in person to the Tuckahoe Police Department headquarters during the overnight hours can contact County Police through a telephone mounted at the front door. A Tuckahoe police officer is then dispatched to return to headquarters.

The County can provide the service to Tuckahoe at no cost because the small volume of overnight calls in the Village can be handled by current personnel.