Police Chief Blasts Proposed Budget, Calls it Unsafe

Calling the current budget proposal "unrealistic, irresponsible and hazardous," Harrison Police leadership is urging the town board to reconsider their department's funding for 2012.

Issues with the budget are widespread, but focused mainly on staffing levels. Retirements, injuries and other factors have left the department with 59 full-time active officers, down from 77 in 2008. The department is requesting the board consider budgeting for 68 officers in 2012, there are currently 60 planned for next year.

The department is also requesting more funding for officer training and new equipment. Police Lieutenant Mike Olsey read a statement to the board at Thursday's budget hearing from Harrison Police Chief Anthony Marraccini, who was unable to attend.

In the statement Marraccini blasted the current budget proposal, requesting the board to reconsider department funding in numerous areas. The chief said low staffing levels have pulled police from patrol units and have cost officers the opportunity to interact with children in the community through various programs, among other things.

Specific police programs the chief says have been affected include the special investigative unit, traffic unit and youth division. High-ranking personnel have also been pulled from their positions to fill in with street patrol because of dwindling department numbers, the chief stated.

"Lack of staffing makes it difficult to have a set direction," Olsey read. "First line supervision is the key to success of the entire department's operation."

The addition of eight extra officers would cost the town approximately $739,560 per-year in addition to the currently proposed $16.6 million police budget. The new hires would add about 2 percent to the overall town tax rate. But some of that, police say, would be offset by additional citations handed out by the new officers.

Police are also requesting three days a year of training for each officer at an approximate cost of $115,000 per year. The training would be for skills including weapons development and specific situational training.

In his statement, Marraccini stressed his department has been frugal with its spending in the past, and has made the best of the current situation. 

"It is without question the police department has shown exemplary performance throughout very difficult times, with the historic low staffing levels, lack of equipment in minimal training," Olsey read.

But the chief said despite his department's efforts the smaller police presence has already had an impact on public safety, from increased drug trafficking arrests to traces of gang activity within Harrison's borders.

Councilman Joseph Cannella (R) acknowledged a reduction in staffing over the last three years and said the board has made efforts to add to the department. This year's budget includes three new civilian dispatchers to the police payroll that the board expects will place two more officers on the street. Cannella said the board also expects two injured officers to be approved for disability, which would free space to bring in another two full-time officers.

"The town has tried as best we can to address a number of your concerns," Cannella told a group of five police representatives who proposed the police budget. "In a perfect world we could do more."

Other police concerns include $35,000 to redesign an outdated communications center. That item has already been included in the budget as a capital project.

Other additions to the budget, however, could be difficult to justify from the board's perspective, said Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh.

"It is not possible to give you everything,” she said. "There's just no money."

The board approved a preliminary budget with a 4.2 percent tax rate increase Thursday night without any changes to the police department's operating budget. The board will have until Dec. 20—when the final budget must be approved—to consider any changes.