Politics & Government
Local Cops Dominate List of Highest-Paid Government Employees in State
Empire Center recently released their "What They Make" report for 2015. Two Rockland departments far outpaced those in Putnam or Westchester
Police officers dominated the list of highest-paid local government employees outside New York City in 2014, according to the Empire Center’s 2015 “What They Make” report.
The report uses pay data reported to the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLRS) between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2015. The wages listed do not include fringe benefits such as health insurance or employer pension contributions, which can add 35 percent or more to the cost for taxpayers.
The towns of Ramapo and Clarkstown had the highest average pay statewide -- for general employees as well as police and fire.
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According to the report, New York State’s highest-paid local government employee in 2014-15 was Peter F. Brower, chief of the Ramapo Police Department, who was paid $369,088.
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Nassau County on Long Island dominated that list of highest-paid government employees, but Clarkstown did have six people on it. In the top 10 along with Brower:
- No. 7 - Thomas J. Cokeley, Town of Ramapo (Police & Fire) $274,143
- No. 9 - Michael R. Sullivan, Town of Clarkstown (Police & Fire) $272,037
- No. 10 - Robert G. Mahon, Town of Clarkstown (Police & Fire) $270,753
To show how salaries compared, the report offered average salaries by region. In all of the Mid-Hudson region, the highest paid government employees were Ramapo or Clarkstown cops.
The average town cop in the Mid-Hudson region made $102,432. The average village officer made $99,169.
This is how our local towns with police departments ranked for average officer salary:
No. 1 - Ramapo
No. 2 - Clarkstown
No. 3 - North Castle
No. 4 - Orangetown
No. 5 - Haverstraw
No. 6 - Mount Pleasant
No. 7 - Greenburgh
No. 8 - Carmel
No. 10 - New Castle
No. 12 - Bedford
No. 13 - Yorktown
No. 15 - Mamaroneck
No. 16 - Eastchester
No. 31 - Lewisboro
No. 38 - Pound Ridge
No. 39 - Somers
No. 43 - North Salem
This is how our local villages with police departments ranked:
No. 1 - Ardsley
No. 2 - Buchanan
No. 3 - Piermont
No. 4 - Sleepy Hollow
No. 5 - Irvington
No. 6 - Tarrytown
No. 7 - Croton-on-Hudson
No. 8 - Spring Valley
No. 9 - Elmsford
No. 10 - Mamaroneck
No. 11 - Tuckahoe
No. 12 - Pelham
No. 14 - Harrison
No. 15 - Dobbs Ferry
No. 16 - Port Chester
No. 17 - Bronxville
No. 18 - Hastings-on-Hudson
No. 19 - Pelham Manor
No. 20 - Pleasantville
No. 21 - Rye Brook
No. 22- Briarcliff Manor
No. 23 - Scarsdale
No. 24 - Ossining
No. 25 - Mount Kisco
No. 26 - South Nyack
No. 27 - Larchmont
No. 48 - Brewster
For the full list and report, click here.
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