[Adopted 11-28-2017 by L.L. No. 1-2017]
The Town Board finds that the use of civilian dispatchers to
handle police calls to and from the Police Department of the Town
of Mount Pleasant has the following advantages:
A.
Salary differentials make it less expensive to staff the desk with
civilians;
B.
Sworn officers remain in the field to accomplish the tasks they are
trained for, making them available to respond to calls for service;
and
C.
Civilian dispatchers receive training that is germane to their assignment.
Civilian dispatchers also develop a high level of expertise since
they are performing dispatch functions on a full-time basis.
The Town Board finds that it is empowered to enact this legislation
by Article 9, § 2(3)(c) of the Constitution of the State
of New York in that this article pertains to the property, affairs
and/or government of the Town of Mount Pleasant and, further, such
article is not inconsistent with the Constitution or any general law
relating to the substance of this article.
Notwithstanding anything contained in Chapter 104 of the Laws of 1936 of the State of New York, Chapter 339 of the Laws of 1937 of the State of New York, or any other special law applying to police departments in towns located in Westchester County, the Police Chief of the Town of Mount Pleasant is authorized to assign civilian personnel to receive calls and dispatch police officers for the Police Department of the Town of Mount Pleasant. Such civilian personnel shall not, however, be assigned the duties of a desk officer, except in a case of public emergency.
