FOLLOWING SCHUMER’S ALL OUT PUSH, SENATOR SECURES LONG OVERDUE $10+ MILLION IN PAYMENTS FOR HUDSON VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENTS FROM THE FEDS SO THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT NEEDED TO KEEP HUDSON VALLEY SAFE
Local Hudson Valley Cops Waited 4+ Years For “Equitable Share” Covering Long & Productive Hours Helping Feds Bust Regional Crime Rings, But With Bureaucratic Red Tape Creating No End In Sight And Hurting Their Bottom Lines, Senator Schumer Stood With Law Enforcement To Demand Action And Get The $$$ They Were Owed
Schumer Personally Spoke To The Head Of The DEA And Worked For Months To Get Feds To Stop Dragging Their Feet, And Now Police Departments — Including Rockland, Westchester, Putnam And More—Are Set To Finally Receive The Millions In Compensation They Deserve
Schumer: After Years Of Delays, Our Hard-Working Hudson Valley Cops Finally Have What They Are Owed For Their Dedicated Service
After standing shoulder to shoulder with Hudson Valley law enforcement last year to demand action, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer today revealed that, following his push calling for the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to pay local Hudson Valley law enforcement what they rightfully deserve for working with the feds to help curb illegal drug trafficking in the region, the feds are now set to deliver over $10 million owed to local police departments for their vital contributions, ending years of bureaucratic delays.
Schumer worked relentlessly, not only standing with law enforcement last year to demand action, but personally calling the head of the DEA, and staff worked diligently for months, to cut through red tape so that these long overdue payments could finally be delivered to police departments across the Hudson Valley to provide them the critical support they need to continue to keep our communities safe.
“Hudson Valley police departments from Rockland to Westchester to Putnam worked day in and day out to protect our communities, going above the call of duty to keep the region safe, but were left waiting and wondering – some for almost four years – if they would ever receive from the feds the partnership funding they deserved. I promised them I would not stop fighting until they got the millions they were owed, and today a promise made is a promise kept,” said Senator Schumer. “After years of delays, police departments across the Hudson Valley are now finally getting paid the $10+ million they have rightfully deserved for helping the feds keep our communities safe from drug trafficking. With this federal funding now on the way, these departments will no longer have to worry about strained budget. It was an all-out effort, but I am proud we cut through the red-tape for our local cops and gotten them the compensation they deserve for safeguarding our communities.”
“I extend my gratitude to Senator Schumer for his instrumental role in securing the funding for our law enforcement efforts in the joint DEA task force. His commitment to ensuring the safety of our community is commendable, and this support will significantly enhance our ability to continue to combat drug-related crimes and hold offenders responsible,” said Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco. “Together, we stand united in our mission to create a more secure environment for our community and our country.”
Below is a breakdown of how much each Department is estimated to receive in federal funds this week according to the DEA:
|
Police Department |
Total |
|
New Windsor |
$1,524,655 |
|
Woodbury |
$1,372,430 |
|
Putnam |
$1,372,430 |
|
Rockland |
$1,829,706 |
|
Orangetown |
$1,677,481 |
|
Westchester |
$1,524,655 |
|
Yonkers |
$1,372,430 |
Last year, Schumer called on the feds to pay law enforcement departments, including the Rockland County Sheriff's Office, the Westchester County Police Department, the Orangetown Police Department, the Woodbury Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, the New Windsor Police Department, and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, what they are owed for their equitable share covering long and productive hours working with feds to bust regional crime drug rings. These police departments played a huge role in taking on drug crime in the region, pouring their resources and manpower into combating illegal drug trafficking in the region. Their tireless efforts, often undertaken at great personal risk, have resulted in the dismantling of organized drug trafficking networks and the safeguarding of our communities.
The Senator explained that specifically, the Rockland County Sheriff's Office and the other police departments, as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Westchester Tactical Diversion Squad Task Force, played a pivotal role in a landmark case against the Rochester Drug Cooperative (RDC). In April 2019, the RDC and its executives were indicted by the DOJ under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) for their involvement in the illegal sale of opioids and their failure to report suspicious orders. The investigation exposed the extent of unlawfully distributed opioids and the unscrupulous practices that had plagued our communities for years. Despite DOJ receiving a substantial sum as part of the case, the local police departments involved in the Task Force, such as the Rockland County Sheriff's Office, for too long did not receive their rightful share, which create an adjust situation.
Schumer said thanks to his push, the DOJ has heeded is calls and has now completed the payment process, giving the departments that employ these dedicated officers the compensation they have long awaited. Schumer explained that the millions will finally recognize the exceptional contributions of these Hudson Valley officers - some of whom have waited for up to four years without receiving fair reimbursement for their vital contributions - for their work done with the feds in good faith. The Senator said he is thankful for the dedication and cooperation of the Hudson Valley police officers, who have played an invaluable role in partnering with federal law enforcement officials.
Schumer concluded that, “These men and women from police departments across the Hudson Valley selflessly put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities, and the DOJ has finally fulfilled its obligation and delivered these well-deserved funds owed to them so that law enforcement can continue their vital work with the support they need to keep our communities safe.”
A copy of Senator Schumer’s letter to the Department of Justice appears below:
Dear Attorney General Garland,
I write to express my deep concern over delays in payments owed by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to several Hudson Valley police departments for their vital contributions to the Westchester DEA task force. Specifically, these departments, including the Rockland County Sheriff's Office, the Westchester County Police Department, the Orangetown Police Department, the Woodbury Police Department, the Yonkers Police Department, the New Windsor Police Department, and the Putnam County Sheriff's Office, are owed their share of over $16 million for their efforts in successfully combating illegal drug trafficking in the region.
As you know, these brave men and women have selflessly put themselves in harm's way to protect their communities, often at great personal risk, while working in partnership with federal law enforcement officials. Together, they have worked tirelessly to dismantle organized drug trafficking networks and safeguard our communities from dangerous drugs such as oxycodone and fentanyl.
Despite their unwavering commitment, some of these police departments have been waiting for up to four years without receiving fair reimbursement for their vital contributions. This unacceptable delay has caused undue financial strain on these departments, hindering their ability to continue their crucial work effectively.
Moreover, in cases such as the landmark case against the Rochester Drug Cooperative (RDC), these local police departments played a pivotal role, resulting in the dismantling of a major network of illegal drug trafficking and the conviction of RDC's executives under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The RDC has since paid a substantial sum of $16,167,934.26 to the DOJ as part of the case, but the local police departments involved in the task force, such as the Rockland County Sheriff's Office, have yet to receive their rightful share.
I urge the DOJ to immediately expedite the payment process, ensuring that these dedicated officers receive the compensation they have long awaited.
Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
Sincerely,
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