WPCNR WHITE PLAINS POLICE GAZETTE. By John F. Bailey. October 27, 2003: Department of Public Safety Commissioner Dr. Frank Straub appeared at last night's Special Meeting of the Common Council to request permission to add 5 new police officers beginning in January, bringing the department's strength to 210 men and women.

The increase in budget to fund the new officers ( which received a vote of confidence from the council last year at this time, providing the city found a way to pay for it), will be 75% paid for by a Department of Justice grant of $750,000.

Commisioner of Public Safety, Dr. Frank Straub Explains His Plans Last Night. Photo by WPCNR News.

 He noted that 22% of the force was eligible to retire in 5 years, and that the vacancy rate would run about 8 officers a year for 3 years, enabling the Public Safety Department to bring on the new officer power with the natural ebb and flow of the retirees. He pointed out that the city would pay only 25% of hiring 5 additional new officers now, and the second compliment of  5 more new officers in January, 2006.

Straub said there were currently 14 vacancies in the police department, budgeted for, and he would add the 5 new officers to that, at a cost of $410,844 in 2004-05.

He stressed this would add “no incremental cost” to the Public Safety Budget. In Fiscal 2004-05, he said the cost of filling the 14 vacancies was $1,057,406. He added that the “incremental cost” of hiring the new officers in January was $176,419.

Straub allowed that the $750,000 grant was unrenewable after three years, leaving unsaid that the full cost of the 10 new officers, approximately $1.2 Million a year would have to be funded with another source beginning in 07-08.

In 2005 the department’s full force would be raised to 210, and by January, 2006, they would reach a full strength of 215.