Tuckahoe Mayor: Police Staffing Conversation

Tuckahoe Mayor Steven Ecklond is speaking out about the Village Budget Advisory Committee's suggestion that four Tuckahoe Police officer positions be downsized. Here is what Ecklond has to say about the Budget Advisory Committee's suggestions:

"Staffing levels and departmental needs of any Police Department are best determined by evaluation and recommendation from the department head.  In the Village of Tuckahoe, this responsibility falls onto our Police Chief.      

I respect the mathematical balance sheet approach taken by the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee in it's recommendations and the Village Board and I are examining their analysis of the department. As elected officials it is our responsibility to allocate the proper departmental funding and oversight to make sure the needs of the department meets the goals of protection and the security of our residents. Finding the correct balance of departmental funding for each department of Village operation is the challenge we face every year when working on creating a budget for the next year. This year has been no different than any other year in which we are having the hard discussions about proper staffing levels in the Police Department and all other areas of Governmental operations.     

I am not unaware of the financial difficulties that a lot of our residents are facing, and the countless hours the Village Board and I have put into this year's budget process reflects our determination to make sure we find the correct balance of what the residents service expectations are and the best manner in which we provide funding to meet these expectations."

Steven A. Ecklond, Mayor
Village of Tuckahoe