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Mount Kisco Completing Transition Following Police Consolidation

MOUNT KISCO, N.Y. -- With Westchester County police having taken over the bulk of local law enforcement duties, Mount Kisco officials have taken the next steps in deciding what to do with items once reserved for village police.

Westchester County police cars stationed in Mount Kisco

Westchester County police cars stationed in Mount Kisco

Photo Credit: Tom Auchterlonie
Louis Terlizzi, pictured speaking at a Mount Kisco Village Board meeting in April. Terlizzi retired on July 16.

Louis Terlizzi, pictured speaking at a Mount Kisco Village Board meeting in April. Terlizzi retired on July 16.

At its July 13 meeting, the Village Board of Trustees authorized the sale of several police items, including 44 Sig Sauer handguns, four AR-15 guns, two radar units, a 1994 Harley Davidson motorcycle and a 1995 Haulmark trailer.

The Mount Kisco Police Benevolent Association (PBA), which continues to operate despite the departure of most personnel to the county, is listed as expressing interest in acquiring the handguns. Bedford's police department is listed as being interested in the AR-15's, the motorcycle and the radar units; the village of Ossining's police department is interested in the trailer.

The equipment to be sold off also include six Ford Crown Victoria cars, which range from nine to 15 years old.

The board also voted to enter into a contract with Laberge Group, which would provide services to assist with the transition. Use of the group is in connection to the village receiving a $340,000 state grant last year to facilitate the police consolidation, Mayor Michael Cindrich said at the meeting.

One section paperwork submitted by Laberge includes services for items no longer needed, such as the consolidation has already taken place. However, one section mentions exploring potential reuse of police station space that is not being occupied by county police. The inquiry includes the creation of what is called a concept site and building plan.

Under the deal that Mount Kisco agreed to with Westchester County, the latter's Department of Public Safety will provide a dedicated amount of personnel for patrolling and supervising in the village. The contract, which is intended to save money for Mount Kisco taxpayers, runs until the end of the decade.

Most of the village police personnel also resigned from their municipal posts and were hired by the county police force. However, the village police department continues on in a limited form; Cindrich previously said that its responsibilities will include parking enforcement and court security.

When the consolidation took effect on June 1, it was previously reported, the only remaining police personnel were Chief Joseph Spinelli and Lt. Louis Terlizzi, who has been a vocal critic of the merger. 

Terlizzi, a 30-year veteran of the village police force, announced his resignation in a July 8 letter, with the consolidation actions being a factor.

"It is with deep sorrow and under extreme duress that, due to the unprecedented actions taken by both the current Mount Kisco Village Board and various Westchester County Government Officials, I am hereby providing you with notice of my intention to retire from the Village/Town of Mount Kisco Police Department on, effective July 16th, 2015," Terlizzi wrote.

Terlizzi's resignation means that Spinelli is the only one left, Cindrich told Daily Voice following the meeting. The village still intends to make a slight increase in the local police department's staff count, however.

 

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