The Jefferson and Greenburgh Police Staffing Levels - Cause for concern?

We have commented earlier on the cavalier approach JPI is taking regarding local public safety issues.

According to the Greenburgh Comprehensive Plan (in draft but set for approval in 2016), as of 2010 the population of unincorporated Greenburgh is roughly 43,000 people. In the past five years there have been numerous new developments throughout the Town (which  is the area outside the incorporated villages of Ardsley, Hastings, Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Elmsford and Tarrytown)  most likely pushing the population to 45,000 or more.

Despite this, since 2008, the Greenburgh police staffing level has remained at 116.

This a ratio of 2.7 officers per 1000 persons.

The Village of Ardsley has a population of roughly 4500 with 19 police officers - a ratio of 4.2 officers per 1000 persons.

This is why, among other things, Ardsley is a very safe community and police response times are extremely fast.

The ratio in Yonkers (population 200,000) is 3.6 officers per 1000 persons.

The ratio in White Plains - which is probably the closest to Greenburgh in terms of socio-economic makeup - is 3.34 (population 58,000).

Unlike Greenburgh, Ardsley has a separate ambulance service - ASVAC.

Greenburgh relies on its police for ambulance, EMT and paramedic services.

While crime has decreased everywhere, with an aging population in our area, increased needs for public safety (remember Sandy?) and the proposed addition of a number of assisted living facilities in the Town of Greenburgh, coupled with more developments like the Preserve,  the proposed Dromore Road (both in Greenburgh)  and the proposed Jefferson (also in Greenburgh), can staffing levels remain the same since 2008?

And if not, any tax benefit the developers are promising from The Jefferson will be eaten up quickly by the need to add additional police, police equipment and support staff.

This vital question (and the impact on police services in the adjacent Rivertowns)  must be addressed by the Town Board when determining what items must be studied in the draft environmental impact statement.  The time to do this at the upcoming scoping session this Wednesday night, January 13, 2016 at Greenburgh Town Hall which begins at 7:30 pm.

This is also the time to put your thinking caps on and tell the Town Board what socio- economic  and environmental impacts need to be studied beyond traffic, schools and life safety issues this mega-development will create. Again, the time to tell the Town Board whether you favor or disfavor this project will come later.

Now is the time to help the Town Board prepare a comprehensive list of impacts to be studied regarding the Jefferson including whether there is any compelling need for it.