ALBANY – Legislation that would allow the villages of Greene and Oxford to promote two local officers to full-time status has been introduced once more in the state senate and assembly.
Officers Norm Shaffer and Ron Martin are valued members of Oxford and Greene’s village police departments, but because they are both over the age of 35, civil service law prohibits them from being hired full-time by either department. In fact, their age precludes them from even taking the competitive civil service exam required for full-time employment.
For the second year running, New York State Senator Tom Libous and Assemblyman Cliff Crouch have introduced bills in Albany which would make an exception for the two village police officers.
According to Crouch, last year’s proposed legislation, which requested that the age requirements be waived to allow Shaffer and Martin to be hired full-time, made it through both houses only to be vetoed by the governor.
“The governor’s office couldn’t allow this to go through,” Crouch explained, because it circumvented civil service law. This year, he said, he and Libous worked directly with the governor’s office on the language of the legislation.
If the legislation, which is currently in committee, is signed by the governor, it would allow the veteran law enforcement officers to take the competitive civil service exam. If they score high enough on the exam, they would then be eligible for full-time employment and benefits.
“Hopefully, the governor will sign it this year,” said Greene Mayor Marcia Miller said, who has worked closely with Libous on drafting of the senate bill.
Officers Ron Martin and Norm Shaffer are currently working part-time for both villages. The officers, both over 35, work part-time shifts for each village to equal a full-time schedule. They would prefer to work full-time: Martin for Oxford and Shaffer for Greene. They have the backing of both village boards and their departments, as well as the state legislators.
“We want to be able to offer Sgt. Shaffer the same benefits as any other officer,” said Greene Police Chief Steve Dutcher. “He and Ron should be entitled to the same benefits and retirement as any other officer but due to a very outdated civil service law because of their age they are not currently eligible for this.”
In Dutcher’s opinion, small departments such as his own and Oxford’s should be able to hire officers regardless of their age, as long as they meet academy requirements. “Small departments should be the exception to the rule,” he said.
According to Crouch, the legislation has helped open eyes in Albany and there are now discussions about raising the age statewide. “There are a lot of good officers (over the age of 35) out there, doing a good job,” Crouch said.
In recent years, with many law enforcement officers being called up to serve their country overseas, there have been fewer qualified candidates for openings in small departments, Crouch explained. This has increased the need for reform.
“We still have to have safety here at home,” the assemblyman said.