ROCK TAVERN – An official of Teamsters Local 445, which represents among others, police officers in Orange, Sullivan, Ulster and Dutchess counties, said that while change is sweeping across the nation, there is no “honest and informed discussion about the current state of affairs and the type of reform needed to effect that change.”
Business Agent Mike Pitt pointed to the state’s abolition of the 50-a protection of police officers, saying the protection of cops under that provision was scuttled without consulting with police because of the actions of a few.
“They are characterizing the entire police as a whole instead of just concentrating on the one or two bad apples and it’s not fair to everybody because there are very, very good cops in this area who do a very good job and I believe the majority of the public would want them to be funded and remain doing what they are doing now, and that is protecting,” he said.
Pitt said Teamsters Local 445 is calling on state and local politicians to give police officers a seat at the table and a hand in crafting any reform.
NEWS STORY PROVIDED BY: Mid Hudson News -www.midhudsonnews.com