AGENCY TESTIMONY
DEP Police Department's role in watershed protection
0:35:38
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95 sec
The commissioner explains the critical role of the DEP Police Department in protecting the watershed and water infrastructure. He also highlights challenges faced by the department.
- DEP Police patrol the watershed daily and maintain various specialized units
- They protect against unauthorized access, encroachment on DEP land, and potential threats to water infrastructure
- The department works closely with local police agencies and assists during emergencies
- DEP Police face challenges with retention due to pension disparities compared to other law enforcement agencies
- There is a nearly 20% vacancy rate in the department despite recruitment efforts
Rohit T Aggarwala
0:35:38
Our officers patrol the watershed every day, and they maintained a detective bureau, an emergency service unit, a canine unit, and an aviation unit.
0:35:46
The DEP police protect against threats to our water supply, including unauthorized access, encroachment on DEP land, and potential threats to our water infrastructure.
0:35:56
They also work closely with local police agencies and assist during emergency situations.
0:36:01
In fact, I will point out just this weekend we participated along with local police in helping to fight a forest fire up in in Duchess County.
0:36:10
It avoids duchess in Duchess County, including using our helicopter to dump water on it at one point.
0:36:18
Their work is critical to ensuring that our surface water supply and our infrastructure are secure.
0:36:23
The new union representing the DEP police are currently engaged in an effort to secure state and city approval for an appropriate law enforcement pension.
0:36:31
DEP Police have a civil service pension plan, not a law enforcement 1.
0:36:36
This means that DEP Police cannot retire until age 63, while most police officers in New York state can retire after 25 years of service.
0:36:44
Because our officers are fully trained and licensed, in fact, DEP has its own police academy.
0:36:50
We are constantly losing our officers to other forces in large part because of this massive disparity in the pension.
0:36:57
We currently have nearly a 20% vacancy rate despite doing everything we can to recruit and maintain these important officers.
0:37:06
DEP's outsized role in the watershed as a landowner, major employer, and police force makes it critical that we are a valued member of the community.
