By Danny Teigman
Mayor Eugene Scarpato said at the Nov. 6 meeting at Village Hall that there was enough money budgeted to hire three additional officers, raising the village complement from 45 to 48. "Forty-eight seems to be a very good number," Scarpato said. "At one point the village had 50."
Expanding the force will limit overtime costs while, it is hoped, enhancing residents' protection. According to Police Inspector Alan Cochran, the new officers' starting salaries will be between $40,000 and $45,000, depending on their level of experience, and will rise to $89,000 over five years. Scarpato explained that with future salaries factored in, the increase in cost is nearly equal to the present overtime expenses the village is paying and would not be a burden to taxpayers. Village officials expect that increased revenue from additional summonses will help offset costs.
A larger staff also ensures redundancy if an officer is unable to make his patrol. Though it could take several months to prepare new hires who require police academy training or time spent learning local village law, eventually, Scarpato said, "With 48 police officers, we will either have six or seven cars touring the village at all times." Presently the village has five cars working on two 12-hour shifts.
The mayor admitted that the increase in the force was also a response to a rash of crimes in the village in the last six months, in which businesses have been burglarized and people have been robbed of cash and cell phones. The mayor added, however, that the expansion was planned before the incidents occurred. "This whole thing has got to help," Scarpato said. "We have to be somewhat lucky to have the police officer at the right place at the right time."
"The number one thing people want to see is patrolmen on the street," commented Trustee Thomas Miccio.
Trustee Richard Clifford raised the lone voice of concern, saying that the decision was being made hastily. "We spoke for a total of two and a half hours, and I ask, Why are we moving so quickly?" Clifford said. "I think this issue deserves more than two and a half hours."
Scarpato countered that the police force has been a topic of discussion for months, and that the police chief's request was reasonable.
Clifford eventually acquiesced and voted for the department's expansion.
"We're absolutely thrilled, because we did need the three officers," Cochran said. "The more police officers we have, the better chance we have of catching the criminals."
The board also OK'd three promotions on the force by 3-2 votes. Sgt. Kevin Oveis was promoted to lieutenant, officer Joseph Cipolla became a sergeant and officer William Diebold moved up to detective. Clifford and Miccio abstained. "In no way am I opposed to supporting the police department," Miccio said in explaining his belief that more time was needed to ensure the promotion. "I am one thousand percent behind the police department."
Scarpato said the cost increases of the promotions would be minimal. Cochran confirmed that Diebold's salary will increase by more than $2,000, while Oveis's promotion will earn him an additional $13,000 and Cipolla's salary will jump by $14,000. Police officials did not release their present incomes.
"In the end, it was all done with protection of our residents and our commercial establishments and their property in mind," Scarpato said.
