Police changes in Coeymans fuel concerns

On its Fb web page, the Coeymans Police Benevolent Affiliation says the City Board has been “intentionally and methodically” defunding the division since 2020, when $280,000 was minimize from the police division.

“These cuts in funding, each earlier and present, come instantly out of your City Supervisor George McHugh and City Board members Daniel Baker, Linda Bruon, Marisa Tutay and Brandon LeFevre,” the put up says.

The put up has acquired over 60 shares on social media and is adopted by a barrage of feedback expressing group assist for the police and disdain towards the modifications. Most lately, $40,500 was transferred from the “legislation enforcement gear” funds to a contingency funds final week, they famous. 

The switch of cash covers the acquisition of a automobile, often made in January so it may be paid for in that yr’s funds, however which was picked up in December final yr, McHugh stated. They used the that automobile allotment within the 2022 funds to cowl the additional price.

Cries that the police division goes away are unfaithful, he stated. The 2022 funds mirrored a 4.5 % enhance for police, he stated.

“The Coeymans Police Division has been round for many years, and so they’ll be round for extra a long time so far as I’m involved,” McHugh stated. “Nobody in town board has any intention of abolishing, or defunding, or dismantling the police division in any means, form, or type.”

McHugh did acknowledge that police Chief Douglas Keyer introduced his resignation Friday, to be efficient instantly. Keyer has not spoken publicly about his transfer. McHugh had no touch upon Keyer’s choice.