FISHKILL – The Fishkill Town Board has named one of their current officers to head the police department. Lieutenant Keith Dworkin has been with the department since 2013 and has been the acting “officer in charge” since January of this year with the retirement of Chief James Schepperley.
Dworkin has lived in Fishkill and the surrounding area all of his life and began his career as a police officer with the Town of East Fishkill in 1991. The newly-named chief has had a 29-year career in law enforcement with tenure in several departments. He retired from the New Castle Police Department in 2014. Dworkin claims that he isn’t ready to retire because of a “Genuine love for the job.”
Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra had submitted Dworkin’s name to the board for consideration. On Wednesday night, all of the board members approved the appointment to the position except for Councilwoman Louise Danielle, who abstained from voting.
Danielle is a retired state trooper and did not give a reason for the abstention from voting to give Dworkin the job that pays $35,000 per year.
Albra said Dworkin “has the right temperament for the job,” adding “We both have a desire to increase the department’s community policing efforts and Keith has already started to implement some new initiatives.” Albra is also a retired law enforcement officer.
Councilman Ori Brachfeld called the Dworkin appointment “One that will serve the Town of Fishkill very well for the next several years. He is a great fit for the department and the town.”
Police Sergeant Steve Bouffard, who also serves as the department’s PBA vice-president, said hiring Dworkin from within the ranks is “a sign of confidence. Lt. Dworkin and Lt. Schettino have made substantial positive changes and our members are pleased with the direction of the department.”
Bouffard said the officers “welcome the opportunity to improve our performance and with Chief Dworkin at the helm, the taxpayers are getting their money’s worth.”
In addition to enhancing the community policing efforts of the department, Dworkin said that several other initiatives, combined with training, are providing the foundation that will make the department known as “A 24/7 department with officers capable of handling any call for service or criminal investigation, to better serve our taxpayers.”
