Suffern PBA wants cop paid for Air Force deployment
Supporters of a Suffern police officer are at odds with village officials over his salary and benefits. Technical Sgt. Bill Simurra, 27, is deployed as a reserve member of the U.S. Air Force. New
News 12 Staff
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Jan 8, 2016, 8:38 AM
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Updated 3,039 days ago
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Supporters of a Suffern police officer are at odds with village officials over his salary and benefits.
Technical Sgt. Bill Simurra, 27, is deployed as a reserve member of the U.S. Air Force.
New York State law requires he receive pay and benefits from his normal job for the first 30 days of his military tour.
The issue, supporters say, is that he's deployed for 90 days.
Sgt. John Mallon, of the Suffern Police Department, wants the town board to continue paying Simurra during the rest of the deployment.
Mallon, who is also the PBA president, says he and his men are willing to pick up where village policy leaves off by donating their vacation days or working overtime.
The village board voted on Monday to uphold the state-mandated 30 days' pay, rather than guaranteeing a prorated portion of his $72,000 salary for his entire 90-day deployment.
Suffern Mayor Edward Markunas says the board is working on a formal military leave policy, which would retroactively pay Simurra if it passed.
