Public Employee Press

Funding for civilianization
Union applauds hiring of 415 clericals at NYPD

"More cops on the beat will result in safer streets and open up unionized administrative positions for people who really need jobs." — Eddie Rodriguez, Local 1549 President

DC 37 and Local 1549 hailed a long-fought public safety victory July 1 at a press conference at Bronx Borough Hall.

"For more than 20 years, through three arbitrations, Local 1549 has fought for and won civilianization arbitrations against the Police Department," said Local 1549 and DC 37 President Eddie Rodriguez.

"Finally we have a progressive mayor and City Council who took the first steps by returning able-bodied Police Officers to the streets and hiring 415 clerical workers at the NYPD," Rodriguez said.

He added, "This is a significant change for good and there is more to be done. But today we can say this measure to improve public safety makes the people of New York the winners!"

More clerical hires will save taxpayers millions of dollars

The union has fought for civilianization at NYPD as a practical, long-term cost-savings measure that increases police presence on the streets where it is needed, boosts the clerical staff for office duties and saves taxpayers millions of dollars each year.

The funding for civilianization allocated in the 2016 budget moves 400 uniformed Police Officers from desk duty to patrols. The city will also hire 1,200 Police Officers and add hundreds of School Crossing Guards.

The city will hire clerical administrative employees to perform the routine clerical duties that for decades were regularly assigned to Police Officers under the administrations of former mayors Rudolph Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg. Last year the city hired some 200 clerical workers at NYPD.

Rodriguez praised Mayor Bill de Blasio, Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Public Safety Committee Chair Vanessa Gibson, Finance Chair Julissa Ferreras, and the City Council for their work on the budget and their commitment to invest in safer streets through civilianization.

"More cops on the beat will result in safer streets and open up unionized administrative positions for people who really need jobs," Rodriguez said.