Mount Kisco Renews Contract With Westchester Police Department

MOUNT KISCO, NY — Westchester County and Mount Kisco officials announced that they have renewed their policing contract. Westchester County police will continue to provide municipal police services to the Town/Village of Mount Kisco under a renewed five-year contract that runs through 2024.

County police have provided patrol and investigative services to Mount Kisco since June 2015, when the Mount Kisco Police Department was disbanded and 24 members — a lieutenant, five sergeants, three detectives and 15 officers — were sworn into the county police department.

The renewed Inter-Municipal Agreement, which goes into effect on Jan. 1, was approved by the Westchester County Board of Legislators on Tuesday night.

"Delivering high quality services at a fair cost to taxpayers is a key factor in continuing and strengthening our partnership with the Westchester County Police," Mount Kisco Mayor Gina D. Picinich said in the announcement. "Our agreement with the County provides the Village with forward-thinking public safety strategies, the most recent technology, extensive resources and well trained officers who are an integral part of our community. Our partnership is a case study in effective shared services."

The cost of the contract is $6.6 million in its first year. The annual cost in subsequent years will be adjusted following a review by both parties to reflect any increased costs associated with providing police service to Mount Kisco.

This shared services agreement is a tremendous example of how collaboration and shared services can create both significant savings and improved levels of service," County Executive George Latimer said. "Mount Kisco, quite simply, has more police protection than previously and at a lower cost than maintaining a municipal police department. That’s a winning formula for the residents and taxpayers of the village.”

Officials said the partnership between the County and Village has saved Mount Kisco taxpayers several million dollars and put more patrol officers and supervisors on the street.

Public Safety Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason said the contract renewal was a vote of confidence in the County Police and the job it has done in Mount Kisco. He thanked Mayor Picinich, the Board of Trustees and the village administration for the partnership they have with the county police in keeping the village safe.

Gleason said Mount Kisco was able to leverage significant savings by consolidating dispatching, record-keeping and administrative functions with the County Police. The result has been an increase in the number of officers and supervisors assigned to patrol the community as compared to the period prior to June 2015.

The Department of Public Safety will continue to maintain a police presence in the former village police headquarters on Green Street. Citizens who come to the police station can reach county police headquarters via a telephone callbox and an officer in Mount Kisco is dispatched to meet them.

Gleason said county police officers assigned to Mount Kisco have worked very hard to build trust with residents and establish relationships with the people they serve.

“Through foot patrols and bicycle patrols downtown, to visits to Neighbors Link, the Senior Center and the Boys & Girls Club, to community relations initiatives like Cops & Cones and Operation Blue Santa, we have come to know so many residents in these settings rather than just during emergency calls. We are proud of the service we have provided to the community and look forward to continuing the work we do in partnership with village leaders, the business community and the people of Mount Kisco.”

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