NEWBURGH – The Newburgh Police Department is facing a shortage of sworn officers because of high turnover so the city administration wants to hire part-time cops to supplement the full-timers.
Mayor Torrance Harvey said officers continue to be “poached” by other departments that pay significantly more, making for the manpower deficit in Newburgh’s police force.
“Because they are paying $20,000 in salary, it’s creating a high turnover in our police department and so there is a shortage,” he said. “Just as we discussed the possibility of having part-time firefighters, we are looking at that same possibility for the police department.”
In the meantime, Harvey said the city administration is looking at including significant raises for police officers in the 2023 city budget.
