POUGHKEEPSIE – In An effort
to retain Poughkeepsie City police officers for longer periods of time,
the city and the PBA have come to an agreement that will see the number
of officers reduced from 96 to 92, but salaries increase.
Poughkeepsie, like many other cities in the Mid-Hudson, hire new officers,
spend the time and money to train them, only to have them leave for significantly
higher salaries in counties to the south.
The agreement also includes other components to better serve the city,
its residents and officers, noted Sarah Brannen.
“We are going to be working in partnership with the PBA, the department
and the administration to put some funding into next year’s budget
for dash cams in police department vehicles, which is a concern that has
come up in this council in years past. We are also going to be working
together to increase diversity in the police force in the coming years,”
she said.
Alderwoman Natasha Cherry, chairwoman of the budget committee, met with
the PBA and the other council members since a vote on the agreement was
tabled last week. She was satisfied to see the officers and council are
on the same page in terms of protecting the safety of city residents and
the officers.
