Wappingers: Special election to determine fate of village police

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A special election in the Village of Wappingers Falls on Tuesday will determine the fate of the village police department, which officials hope to dissolve and replace with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office. Video by Jack Howland/Poughkeepsie Journal Wochit

A special election in the Village of Wappingers Falls on Tuesday will determine the fate of the village police department, which officials hope to dissolve and replace with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office.

The village leaders have said utilizing the Sheriff's Office could save the village and its taxpayers more than $700,000 per year, while providing a better service.

Village police Commissioner Carl Calabrese said Friday a "local police department that provides 24-hour service," is best for residents.

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The village board voted 5-1 in August to disband the police force, but that decision was voided in Dutchess County Supreme Court in November because the village hadn’t prepared an environmental impact statement, as required by the state.

Mayor Matt Alexander said the board immediately “went through the review process” to compile an impact statement, and in December voted 6-1 to disband the police.

Officials decided to make the decision subject to a "mandatory referendum" with a community vote, Alexander said, as opposed to the August decision.

“Instead of dragging this out, we wanted to do the most efficient thing,” Alexander said. “We said, ‘Why don’t we just go to vote in 30 days?’”

The August decision had been subject to a "permissive referendum" in which residents had the opportunity to collect signatures to force a vote.

If a majority of voters reject the board's decision, Alexander said the village police force would remain and the board would have to decide how to proceed.

Funding for the village police is set to run out at the end of May, and officials would have to continue its funding — honoring voters' wishes — or present an alternative plan. 

If the board's decision is upheld on Tuesday, Alexander said the police force would be disbanded, with the intent of having the Sheriff's Office take over by June 1.

Registered village voters can vote Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. in village hall at 2582 South Avenue.

An independent review conducted by the Newburgh-based RBT CPAs, LLC indicated the new service could save the village about $718,000 a year and reduce residents’ property taxes by about 16 percent. Additionally, Alexander said the village would be eligible for a roughly $1 million grant from the state for consolidating services.

Calabrese said he’s in favor of having the “best service," which he said would mean keeping the status quo.

“It will be the people’s choice and we’ll have to go from there,” he said. “There are people who need to save the projected tax dollars and people who can afford to save the $300 a year ... it’s hard to say.” 

The new police service would include eight-full time officers in Wappingers Falls who by contract have to stay within the village parameters, compared to the village’s current 27 part-time officers and one full-time officer.

Alexander said having the larger Sheriff’s Office take over the police force would create better careers for officers, with more room to advance, as well as allow for more “contact time” with residents.

“I believe the most prudent thing for village residents to do is to set up a police force that is made up of full-time officers who are trained more than ours,” he said. "This is the best thing residents can do for this community and the kids of the future."

He said, though, that the point of the referendum is to find out what voters want, and added that "I will respect the vote." 

Jack Howland: jhowland@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4870, Twitter: @jhowl04

How to vote

Registered village voters can vote Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. in village hall at 2582 South Avenue.