(WHITE PLAINS, NY) After additional retirements in January, Democratic Legislators are calling on County Executive Rob Astorino to abide by the 2017 County Budget and hire the allocated officers Democratic Legislators fought to have included. The 2017 Budget funds 292 officer positions, the number of vacancies as of today stands at 15.

County Executive Astorino has publicly stated that hiring of officers will be on a “cash flow” and “need” basis while he has accused local police unions of political grandstanding.

“Westchester County has seen a sharp decrease in its patrols of County facilities,” said Legislator Ben Boykin (D-White Plains) who is Chair of the Board’s Committee on Public Safety and Social Services. “There has also been a 20% decrease in Narcotics Unit personnel at a time when opioid deaths in Westchester County have seen a 61% spike. I think these two facts alone constitute a need,” ended Boykin.

“Our County, and my district, has seen some of the negative effects of this freeze on police hires,” added Majority Leader Catherine Borgia (D-Ossining). “Incidents have occurred in Croton Point Park, Ward Pound Ridge, and along the Bronx River Parkway. The appropriate level of officers may have helped served as a deterrent to these crimes,” said Borgia.

“Westchester County Police officers are not just ‘nice to have’ and we need to make sure these slots are filled,” said Legislator Ken Jenkins (D-Yonkers). “We have heard reports of County Parks Department employees riding on ATVs with Police markings in various parks around the County. Clearly, the County Executive sees the need for added patrols. It is time for him to do the right thing for Westchester taxpayers and hire the police officers that Democrats fought hard to find funding for and he agreed to,” added Jenkins.