Funds for Police Merger Study Remain Up in the Air

Despite applying for a state grant several months ago, money for a feasible study into a countywide police merger are still in question, with Putnam County and local officials seeking other options to fund the study requested by the Town of Carmel.

Deputy County Executive Bruce Walker said in an interview that a possible plan is for the county to put an RFP (Request for Proposal) out immediately to the bidding process in order to get the actual expense of a police merger study. Once that cost estimate is determined, municipalities with police departments could decide if they want to take part in the study, in which they would pay for a share of the cost.

But Carmel Supervisor Ken Schmitt, in an interview, wasn’t as committed to that new plan of sending out an FRP, noting he and his town board haven’t had enough time to consider the proposal. Schmitt said that option requires further discussion on everyone’s part.

“I don’t think a conversation in the parking lot of the county building (with Walker) really qualifies for a discussion where we can have an understanding or agreement on how we’re going to move forward with that,” Schmitt said.

Proposing a study to explore merging all police agencies into one countywide force got started last March, when Carmel officials sent a letter to the county asking it to begin a process that would weigh the benefits and detractions of consolidating all police departments, including the sheriff’s office, into one.

Carmel and Kent have a police department with full-time officers, while Brewster and Cold Spring have a department with part-time officers. The sheriff’s department controls the rest of the county, while assisting the other police forces.

During a tense July 8 Protective Services Committee meeting, Walker said the county has yet to receive grant money from New York State, which was applied through state Sen. Terrence Murphy’s office, and the county could be waiting for an extended period for that money to come through. Because of that holdup, Walker proposed starting a study on Aug. 1 using residents and workers within the county, citing “we do have a significant amount of expertise within the county.”

The county already has about completed four past studies, Walker said, dating back to the 1970s that could be referenced when discussing whether it is reasonable to have a countywide police force.

“We can do a fifth study if we think it’s necessary,” Walker said. “Or we could rely on the four and pull the right people in the room and let’s hash this out.”

Schmitt said a true independent study from an outside consulting firm would yield the best results. While there are residents and workers within the county that can lend valuable input, Schmitt said a study done solely within the county could lead to “tainted opinions and preconceived thoughts.”

By staying only within county borders, Schmitt argued, “You will never assemble that group of people…that will be totally objective and independent with their thought process without politics or favoritism involved in it.”

“We all know with politics it never ends well because politics in Putnam County is horrible,” Schmitt said. “I’ve lived through it for eight years now, I understand it and I see where it goes.”

Walker responded he’s hopeful residents and county workers asked to be part of the study could take an “altruistic approach” to discussing a merger without putting personal agendas first. He also said a possible police consolidation is only one of numerous issues within the emergency service community that could be looked at, taking a broader approach to the study.

“This is a much bigger issue than just police consolation and I guess we could just ignore it, but that’s not my choice,” Walker said.

Schmitt further questioned if the county is committed to actually having a feasible study done, and even went as far to say he can’t believe the grant money from New York State is tied in bureaucratic knots. He challenged county officials to let Carmel officials know where they actually stood in getting the money for merger study.

“I feel like it’s something that should be moved forward with but I’m just not getting that feeling that the county is really working toward that,” Schmitt said in an interview. “I just think it’s an effort that needs to be a stronger effort.”

David Propper