ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that, following his push calling for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pay local Hudson Valley law enforcement what they rightfully deserve for working with the feds to help curb illegal drug trafficking in the region, the feds are now set to deliver over $10 million owed to local police departments for their vital contributions, ending years of bureaucratic delays.
Schumer worked relentlessly, not only standing with law enforcement last year to demand action, but personally calling the head of the DEA, and staff worked diligently for months, to cut through red tape so that these long overdue payments could finally be delivered to police departments across the Hudson Valley to provide them the critical support they need to continue to keep our communities safe.
“Hudson Valley police departments from Rockland to Westchester to Putnam worked day in and day out to protect our communities, going above the call of duty to keep the region safe, but were left waiting and wondering – some for almost four years – if they would ever receive from the feds the partnership funding they deserved. I promised them I would not stop fighting until they got the millions they were owed, and today a promise made is a promise kept,” said Senator Schumer. “After years of delays, police departments across the Hudson Valley are now finally getting paid the $10+ million they have rightfully deserved for helping the feds keep our communities safe from drug trafficking. With this federal funding now on the way, these departments will no longer have to worry about strained budget. It was an all-out effort, but I am proud we cut through the red-tape for our local cops and gotten them the compensation they deserve for safeguarding our communities.”
For the Rockland Sheriff’s Office, that means $1.8 million. Orangetown police will get $1.6 million, while Westchester County will get $1.5 million and Yonkers police $1.37 million. Putnam County Sheriff’s Office gets $1.3 million while two Orange County police departments – New Windsor and Woodbury – and get $1.5 million and $1.3 million, according to Steve Lieberman from Lohud.
