Post by onthejob on Nov 17, 2011 23:07:26 GMT -5
Suffolk police PR staff decry budget cuts; updated
3:29 PM By Paul LaRocco
Several of Suffolk County police’s civilian public information employees lobbied county legislators Thursday over steep cuts to their budget next year.
The legislature’s revision of County Executive Steve Levy’s 2012 spending plan reduced total layoffs from 710 to 88, saving 20 sworn police officers and funding a new-recruit class. To help make up the difference, the lawmakers instead eliminated 11 of 13 civilian public information positions, for a savings of roughly $300,000.
Kerry Pecorino, a public information officer, told the legislature’s public safety committee that removing all but two civilians from the division, “is not a sustainable plan logistically or financially.” She said the division is available 24 hours a day, and that reduced staffing could limit media access to the department.
She then echoed comments made earlier by Levy – that having to move sworn officers into those positions, including managing calls in the Crime Stoppers tip divisions, would offset any savings from layoffs.
Minority Leader John Kennedy (R-Nesconset) replied that Levy’s reductions in sworn staff would have had a far deeper impact on public safety, endangering residents “from Amityville to Orient.”
He noted that County Executive-elect Steve Bellone and his choice for police commissioner would determine how to best run the public information and Crime Stoppers divisions with existing personnel, civilian and sworn.
Suffolk Police Chief of Department Robert Moore declined to speculate on what would occur next year, but said, “the Crime Stoppers function is a vital component that will continue.”
Levy had beefed up the public information unit several years ago, removing sworn officers and employing more civilians. He said the move saved money and put cops back on the street.
Critics have said that Levy simply created an unnecessary political public relations arm inside the police department, and that fewer civilians easily could have handled day-to-day police news releases and requests.
3:29 PM By Paul LaRocco
Several of Suffolk County police’s civilian public information employees lobbied county legislators Thursday over steep cuts to their budget next year.
The legislature’s revision of County Executive Steve Levy’s 2012 spending plan reduced total layoffs from 710 to 88, saving 20 sworn police officers and funding a new-recruit class. To help make up the difference, the lawmakers instead eliminated 11 of 13 civilian public information positions, for a savings of roughly $300,000.
Kerry Pecorino, a public information officer, told the legislature’s public safety committee that removing all but two civilians from the division, “is not a sustainable plan logistically or financially.” She said the division is available 24 hours a day, and that reduced staffing could limit media access to the department.
She then echoed comments made earlier by Levy – that having to move sworn officers into those positions, including managing calls in the Crime Stoppers tip divisions, would offset any savings from layoffs.
Minority Leader John Kennedy (R-Nesconset) replied that Levy’s reductions in sworn staff would have had a far deeper impact on public safety, endangering residents “from Amityville to Orient.”
He noted that County Executive-elect Steve Bellone and his choice for police commissioner would determine how to best run the public information and Crime Stoppers divisions with existing personnel, civilian and sworn.
Suffolk Police Chief of Department Robert Moore declined to speculate on what would occur next year, but said, “the Crime Stoppers function is a vital component that will continue.”
Levy had beefed up the public information unit several years ago, removing sworn officers and employing more civilians. He said the move saved money and put cops back on the street.
Critics have said that Levy simply created an unnecessary political public relations arm inside the police department, and that fewer civilians easily could have handled day-to-day police news releases and requests.
