HIRING POLICE OFFICERS:

IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

Dear Mayors and Village Officials,

For those of you with police forces, you already know that it is not uncommon for villages to hire police officers from NYC or other NYS municipalities, enticing them with (eventual) better pay, and (immediate) better working conditions.

Historically, under General Municipal Law section 72-C, if a village with an "under 10,000" population had a police officer hired away to another municipality (e.g., NYC), the "under 10,000" municipality could seek reimbursement from the new employer for the costs (salary, training expenses, etc.) of training the police officer (on a pro-rata basis, per a formula in the law).  However, under a 2011 amendment to GML 72-C, that has changed!  The amendment eliminates the "under 10,000" population requirement.  

Therefore, if you are hiring police officers away from any other municipality, you should be wary that you may be charged with the training costs for that officer.

Be aware!

Sincerely,

Peter A. Bee, Esq.

Counsel

Suffolk County Village Officials Association