TOWN OF FISHKILL – The Fishkill Town Board approved the hiring of five new part-time police officers at a meeting last week. All of the new hires are veterans of other departments.
Although vacancies still exist in the department, Police Chief Keith Dworkin is optimistic that the long-standing vacancies in his department will be filled in the near future.
“We’re optimistic with the new town board that they will support our request and recommendation to fill the ranking positions in the command staff, detective bureau, and first-line supervisors,” said Dworkin after getting approval for the five part-time patrol officers.
The new officers set to patrol the Town of Fishkill:
- Michael LoScerbo, retired City of Newburgh Police Detective
- Michael Sotanski, currently with the Marlborough Police Department
- Curtis McDermott, a Shawangunk Police Officer with FBI training
- Danyo Kobyleckyj, currently with the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office
- Arkeem Gorham, currently a Village of Fishkill and Plattekill Police Officer
Earlier in January, the town board fired Police Commissioner Dennis Zack, over the objection of Town Supervisor Ozzy Albra. When the position was eliminated, Albra said that the department was going to operate “without supervision.”
Albra and the union representing the police, the PBA, have been at odds over staffing in the department. PBA President Carl DeMarco has accused Albra of trying to defund the police by not filling the vacancies. Albra disputed that claim and said “Nothing could be further from the truth.” The background for that dispute can be found HERE.
