Consolidating Putnam Police

Putnam county, town and law enforcement officials are considering doing a study of the costs and benefits of a countywide police force

Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell has called a meeting Nov. 30 of interested stakeholders.

That would include Carmel town officials, who first raised the issue in the spring.

Odell said she looked for funding to cover a feasibility study and considered applying for a competitive government efficiency grant from the state in 2016.

Then the New York State Association of Counties identified someone who could undertake such a study, she said in a prepared statement.

Daniel Dytchkowskj, who is a sergeant in the Erie County Sheriff’s Office, is working toward his Master’s degree and would undertake the study without charge. The county would reimburse his travel expenses. This makes the study financially affordable and the county would not have to wait for a possible state grant.

“Accordingly, I will be hosting a meeting with the stakeholders -- town, village and county officials, the heads of each municipal law enforcement agency, the Putnam County Fiscal Vision Team, and PBA representatives, to introduce Mr. Dytchkowskj,” she said in a memo. “At the meeting we can discuss the scope of the study and determine the necessary steps to move forward.”

Meanwhile, she said Putnam County Sheriff Donald Smith has met with the Carmel Town Board to discuss the community’s policing needs and future possible partnerships.