VILLAGE OF WAPPINGERS FALLS – Mayor Rick Cerino faced criticism from fellow Wappingers Falls village trustees on Wednesday after he arbitrarily re-hired a police commissioner that he fired in April of 2021. Mayor Cerino had orchestrated the firing of former Village Police Commissioner Walter Burke in March of 2021 for not performing his required duties.
Police Commissioner Charles Ferry replaced Burke in April of last year and recently resigned last month. The village board put out a request for applications from candidates interested in the police commissioner position. Trustee Jennifer Niznik noted at the meeting that, despite receiving several applications, Mayor Cerino only interviewed Burke, who did not even submit an application or letter of interest.
Railing against the hiring process, Niznik said at the meeting “Certain board members decided to take it upon themselves to go behind the back of the personnel committee’s back, and the rest of the board’s back, and put somebody up for hire that wasn’t even interviewed.”
Defending his hiring process, Cerino said, “It is my job to get the most highly-qualified person for this position, and that’s why I selected Mr. Burke.” The mayor admitted that there was a lack of transparency and that “this was a flawed process,” in justifying his appointment of Burke.
Cerino said that Burke was interviewed by himself, the village attorney, and a trustee at a diner but denied that the interview was a “secret” meeting. The mayor also told trustees that he made his decision after reviewing the submitted applications of those interested in the position.
Newly re-hired Commissioner Burke is a retired administrative officer from the Larchmont Police Department and said he can assume the duties of the $45,000 part-time job immediately.
