Westchester police face budget cuts

Westchester County police patrols could be scaled back significantly if the state goes through with millions of dollars in planned cuts. As the state grapples with a multibillion budget deficit, the

News 12 Staff

Feb 3, 2009, 12:49 AM

Updated 5,726 days ago

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Westchester County police patrols could be scaled back significantly if the state goes through with millions of dollars in planned cuts.
As the state grapples with a multibillion budget deficit, the Westchester County Police Department could face $2.4 million less in funding. Police officials say that could lead to patrols being taken off local parkways.
"If it got to the point where we were no longer able to patrol the parkways, we think there truly is a risk for the safety and security of the people of Westchester," says Westchester County Police Commissioner Thomas Belfiore.
According to Belfiore, the state wouldn't gain financially from the cuts because the county police department makes $1.5 million for the state through tickets and arrests. In addition, he says the state would also have to spend more money to put their own patrols on the parkways.