Pubdate: Sun, 27 Mar 2005
Source: Journal News, The (NY)
Copyright: 2005 The Gannett Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.nyjournalnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1205
Author: Cara Matthews

PUTNAM UNION SPAT CUTS DRUG COP RANKS

In 12 months on the beat with the Putnam County Narcotics Task Force,
a Carmel police officer made nearly 40 arrests for possession and sale
of drugs like Ecstacy, marijuana and cocaine, and supplied leads that
led to successful investigations in other towns.

A new county-town partnership program had put him there, based on the
theory that working together prevents duplication of efforts and gives
authorities an edge in collaring dealers and users.

But on March 18, the county ended the program, and the undercover
officer, whose name was withheld, was sent back to Carmel, where he
was placed on patrol.

Some people are upset that what began as a management-police union
dispute over two vacant county deputy sheriff jobs is affecting police
vigilance on illegal drugs. And the actions came just after County
Executive Robert Bondi asked lawmakers and the public to support his
extensive plan to curb drug and alcohol abuse. His annual State of the
County message March 9 centered on the deleterious effects of drugs
and alcohol on health, government services and other areas.

"This program was off to a great start and had even greater promise
for the future," Putnam Sheriff Donald Smith said last week.

The disagreement began when the Sheriff's Department Police Benevolent
Association -- which has not had a contract since January 2003 and is
in arbitration -- filed an improper practice complaint against Putnam.
The union argued it was unfair to hire someone outside the department
when two in-house jobs had been left open. The union offered to
rescind the complaint if the jobs were filled, along with a few more
stipulations.

The positions have funding in the sheriff's budget, but Bondi has not
signed two vacancy control forms filed in 2003 that are necessary for
the hires to move forward.

Paul Eldridge, Putnam's personnel director, said Putnam faced a
finding of improper practice if it did not end the contract.

Bondi, who came up with the idea for the narcotics partnership, said
Friday he will not be "blackmailed" by the PBA. "This is greed, plain
and simple," he said of the union's stance.

PBA President Fred Mark said the union is not motivated by greed.
Members need to have a guarantee their jobs are given priority over
those that are contracted out, he said. The PBA made its offer more
than a year ago, he said.

"The PBA's position is the more cops you can put in that (narcotics)
unit, the better," Mark said.

Carmel Police Chief Michael Johnson said the partnership was one of
the best programs the department ever had, and he was "flabbergasted"
that it was abruptly discontinued. He was planning to rotate officers
into the program every six to 18 months, he said.

Under the arrangement, the county agreed to pay up to $50,000 of the
salary and benefits. The amounts for the past year totaled about
$40,000 for the county and $40,000 for Carmel, Johnson said.

The base annual salary for a new deputy sheriff who has completed
academy training is $42,838, Smith said. Benefits for each deputy
sheriff total about $20,600 a year, he said.

"I'm disheartened and perplexed that at a time when drug and alcohol
issues have been made the highest priority in the county, that this
intermunicipal agreement between the county of Putnam and the town of
Carmel is being discontinued," Smith said.

Eldridge said Bondi's administration disputes statements by union
members, county lawmakers and the Sheriff's Office that the two
unfilled positions are in narcotics. Narcotics is fully staffed. Plus,
in April 2003, the Sheriff's Office ended a long-term contract with
Brewster, and there was no longer a need for the five full-time deputy
sheriffs who patrolled the village, he said.

According to Smith, deputies who, in an ideal situation would be in
narcotics, are working patrol. Putnam is a fast-growing county, and he
believes all the vacancies should be filled. His office still is
responsible for patrolling Brewster, he said. Smith said staffing also
is an issue because he is concerned about the safety of county
residents and his own police officers.

County Legislator Tony Hay, R-Southeast, said it's a shame to give up
the narcotics officer contract "because we're playing games with two
positions."

Legislator Sam Oliverio, D-Putnam Valley, said he understands the
union's position but believes it was petty of the PBA to sabotage the
narcotics job.

Maria Lovera of Mahopac, who has a 7-year-old and an 11-year-old, said
she is concerned about drugs and their potential impact on the
community. Her husband is a narcotics officer in New York City. Her
son will enter middle school next year, she said.

"I definitely would worry about him going into the middle school and
being exposed to narcotics," she said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin