Pelham Residents Throng to Village Hall to Protest Police Cuts

Nearly 200 people packed Village Hall Tuesday night to protest the plan to cut the budget by eliminating a police officer.

The Village of Pelham Board of Trustees suggested a tax levy increase of 8.35 percent, which is a decrease from the originally proposed 11.5 percent increase. To get to that reduction, the board proposed a number of reductions, which include keeping two vacant positions open in the police department and eliminating another.

Board members also proposed cutting the number of crossing guards and the number of seasonal Department of Public Works employees.

Police Chief Joseph Benefico urged the board to reconsider the layoff. By way of civil service rules, Benefico stated that lifelong Pelham resident Earl Scott is the officer who may lose his job.

“Earl has always demonstrated exemplary and professional conduct,” Benefico said. “We are being asked to bear the brunt of the budget proposal.”

Numerous Pelham residents echoed the chief’s concerns and stressed the importance of keeping the police force strong, especially in a slow economy.

Solange Barrow of Pelham asked board members if they took into consideration a spike in crime a drop in police presence could potentially create.

"Did you take it to heart when I was sexually assaulted and dragged down First Avenue [last March]?” she said.

The mayor indicated that he was not aware that the assault had taken place.

“This shows that the mayor is not in touch with the residents of Pelham,” she said.  Barrow added that she would be willing to pay more in taxes to keep the same police presence and services.

The proposed layoff will save close to $100,000 and the board members noted that the police force has functioned with 24 members in the past, which is the number the force will be reduced to. While the board acknowledged the outpouring of support, it also said that it has been left with few alternatives considering the exceptional increase in medical care and pension contributions.

“Nobody wants to lay anybody off,” remarked Trustee Theresa Mohan.

A few residents suggested money-saving alternatives to layoffs, including sharing services with Pelham Manor.

The mayor said he does not expect to see a noticeable difference in police presence with the cuts.

The next Village Hall meeting is set for April 26 at 7:30 p.m. will include the final vote on the budget.