July 12, 2010

Based on Passage of Early Retirement, Optimism on Nursing Home Sale, Will Seek to Add 70-80 Recruits in November

Hauppauge, NY -- Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy today said the Police Department and Department of Civil Service will begin the canvassing and processing for another class of 70-80 recruits – the second class of officers in 2010 – to begin in November.

The county executive said he is moving ahead with the recruit plan based upon the passage last week of an early retirement incentive program, which will save the county millions in 2010 and 2011, and what he termed ‘cautious optimism’ on the proposed sale of the county’s skilled nursing facility – which would net the county $20 million and provide an annual recurring savings of $8-10 million.

“When this second class is added to the first recruit class of 70, which started two weeks ago, and the 50 positions we are civilianizing, the net effect in 2011 will be an influx of nearly 200 officers to our patrol ranks,” said Levy.

As noted in Newsday, the county’s municipal union last week informed lawmakers it would not present any legal challenges to the proposed sale of the nursing home, which the Legislature could consider on August 17.

“It is now starting to appear as if we could have a majority of legislators to support the sale of the facility to a reputable, private sector owner committed to keeping the present patients in their beds,” said Levy. “With the savings we can generate through early retirement, we are comfortable with our budget model of beginning a second class of 70-80 in late fall – assuming the sale of the facility is confirmed.”

“As I have said all along, we have to be able to save money in one place before we can spend it in another, and as we save my priority is to invest that money into public safety,” said Legislator Dan Losquadro.

“I’m pleased to learn that we are moving closer to hiring even more police,” said Legislator Lou D’Amaro. “I am happy to work with the County Executive so that we can put savings in place that allow us to fund additional police that will help us fight against gangs and crime throughout Suffolk.”

Levy noted that the canvassing and screening process for a class takes several months for the department to complete, and said has ordered that process to begin as a ‘good faith effort, so that we can be ready to begin the class in November or December if everything else falls into place.”

During the budget process last year, the Legislature sought to hire 200 officers; however, as the Budget Review Office noted in committee testimony this spring there was not enough funding in their model to pay for the full complement of officers.

Levy said that early retirement savings and the nursing home sale will help fund the class.