Westchester probation officers push for 25-year retirement benefit at county meeting
Dozens of officers attended Monday night’s Westchester County Board of Legislators meeting in White Plains, where they called on elected officials to support what they describe as an issue of fairness and equal treatment.
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Westchester County probation officers are urging county lawmakers to include an early retirement benefit in the 2027 county budget, arguing they are the only county law enforcement agency that does not qualify for a 25-year retirement plan.
Dozens of officers attended Monday night’s Westchester County Board of Legislators meeting in White Plains, where they called on elected officials to support what they describe as an issue of fairness and equal treatment.
“It’s about fairness,” probation officer Nolaida Sanders told lawmakers, adding, “We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for equal treatment.”
The officers are seeking a retirement benefit that would allow eligible employees to retire after 25 years of service, similar to benefits available to many other law enforcement agencies and probation departments across New York state.
CSEA Unit 9200 President Joseph Dalli joined officers in support of the effort, calling the proposal a long-standing priority for the union.
Under the current Tier 6 New York State pension system, many probation officers say they would otherwise have to work until age 62 before becoming eligible for full retirement benefits.
Officers argue that their work regularly places them in potentially dangerous situations while supervising individuals who may be non-compliant or pose safety risks. They say those responsibilities are comparable to other law enforcement agencies that already receive enhanced retirement benefits.
Probation officer Peter Tripodi also told legislators the issue raises concerns about equity, noting that the probation department is predominantly female while other county law enforcement agencies with early retirement benefits are majority male.
The Westchester County Board of Legislators said the retirement proposal is not currently before the board and did not provide News 12 with additional comment.
Probation officers say they plan to continue pressing county lawmakers to bring the proposal to a vote as discussions begin on the 2027 county budget.
