Tuckahoe Police Reduction Conversation

People in Tuckahoe are speaking out about the village's Budget Advisory Committee's suggestion the four Tuckahoe Police officer positions be downsized. Here is what your neighbors are saying about the Budget Advisory Committee's suggestions, which were made public at Tuesday's Board of Trustees meeting.

Jeff Meyer: Tuckahoe should NOT cut police officers. The TPD does an excellent job and when needed they respond very quickly. Public safety is not something that should be compromised.

Elizabeth O'Loughlin: I agree with the need for down sizing and I am glad this is being looked at. I also agree that it is rediculous to have three police departments for one Town of Eastchester. The Fire Deparment is one... so why not the police? It's about time we start on this process.

Robert: Eastchester, Tuckahoe and Bronxville should be one Police agency, do you have an Eastchester Fire Department? Yes, Tuckahoe and Bronxville Fire Department? No, one agency covers all three, so why not the PD? Imagine the reduction is duplicated costs? One Chief, one Court, one Police Department.

Karen: Cutting police officers is an absolute NO NO! I feel the Tuckahoe Police Department is staffed appropriately. If the Village is looking to make cuts then they need to start within Village Hall. The Village Clerk's Office staffs 3 full-time employees and one of those employees is retired, but yet still employed making almost $100K a year. Really? You have three employees in the Building Department. Why not merge the Tuckahoe Village Code Enforcement Officer with that of Bronxville and share the cost or all together move the entire building department to the Town. Either down the trolley or eliminate Dial-A-Ride, I just feel like $30K towards transportation is a bit much. $355K to fund the Village Library and $292K of that is in salaries. After perusing the budget these are some of the things that jump out to address. We have to be realistic. Reducing trash pick-up to one day a week should not be a considered in the type of Village we live in where there are more multi-family dwellings than single family in the Village. Another issue is to be a little more cooperative with local businesses trying to come into the Village. When you have a business trying to open, making it harder for them to open does not help occupy an empty store front making it very easy for a property owner file a tax cert. Please understand that I am not minimizing these departments, but times are changing and we need to change with them, but NOT when it comes to public safety.