Cortlandt To Add Community Resource Officer

CORTLANDT, NY — The town of Cortlandt is going to add a new community resource officer.

The town is contracting for an additional Westchester County police officer to enhance a wide range of community initiatives through the appointment of a community resource officer.

In an announcement Wednesday, County Executive George Latimer and Cortlandt Supervisor Richard Becker said the new position is an outgrowth of the state-mandated police reform process undertaken by both the town and the county in the past year.

"The work to be done by a CRO will enhance the safety and security of the people of Cortlandt and will also build trust and a stronger relationship between the police and the people they serve in the town," Latimer said.

Becker said he was excited to be able to offer this coverage to the community through the ongoing partnership with the county's Department of Public Safety.

"I would like to thank County Executive George Latimer for working with our community in making this partnership a success and one that continues to grow," he said.

The community resource officer will work closely with the supervisor and town board, the business community, neighborhood and community organizations and others to identify and address issues of concern.

The officer will enhance the municipal police service that the county police have provided to Cortlandt under contract since 1999.

Police Officer Deopaul Mahadeo, who currently serves as a patrol officer in the town, was selected to be the resource officer, because of his extensive knowledge of the Cortlandt community.

The areas the resource officer will focus on include neighborhood and community engagement, mental health crisis team support, domestic violence follow-up and engaging with local youth and youth organizations.

Community resource officers received specialized training to meet the community policing objectives in the communities they serve.

Mahedeo is a United States Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He began in law enforcement with the White Plains Police Department where he served for five years before transferring to the Westchester County Police Department.