Officials in Putnam County are at odds over
defunding the sheriff's marine unit.
News 12 is told the controversy and concerns are
the topic of discussion after three water
deaths occurred last weekend along the Delaware River.
County Sheriff
Robert Langley believes there’s a liability on the lawmakers in the county. “I think it’s bad management, not
understanding that emergency services are an essential service,” says Langley.
The boats were removed from patrolling the
Hudson River after lawmakers cut the service from the county’s budget to save
taxpayers $45,000.
County Executive MaryEllen Odell tells News 12 the unit was redundant and removed to consolidate services with other
departments already on water patrol.
However, Langley disagrees and says the marine
units are crucial to safety and rescue operations.
“There’s been four incidents so far on the Hudson River that the sheriff’s office should have been
responding to,” says Langley.
According to the sheriff, local police and fire
departments are overwhelmed with increased calls. He wants the unit reinstated,
but Odell says that isn’t something to be considered.
The unit
currently has one boat remaining
on Lake Oscawana in Putnam Valley. The other two boats on the Hudson River were defunded.