News

Rye looks to create Department of Public Safety

The city of Rye is moving forward with plans to scrap its police and fire departments in favor of a joint Department of Public Safety.

Although it will require a public referendum, if approved, Rye would become just the third jurisdiction in Westchester with such a department. Currently, only the city of White Plains and the county have departments of public safety.

The move would combine the roles of police commissioner and fire administrator into one leadership position. The proposal, which was introduced in late May, would be the first major step in creating the city’s first public safety commissioner, and is being considered in part to help streamline the Fire Department’s oversight and free up city funds to hire additional firefighters.

Throughout the past several years, concerns have been raised over the department’s decreasing number of volunteer firefighters and paid staffing levels.

Currently, fire Lt. Kurt Tietjen—the highest ranking Rye Fire Department member—takes care of much of the day-to-day administration of the department. According to Tietjen, the position is a “logical step” in getting the department back on track, despite the department still needing additional paid firefighters to help assist their current staff of 17.

Because the public safety commissioner position would require alterations to the city’s charter, however, the creation of such a position would also be required to go to public referendum, allowing residents to vote on the upcoming November Election Day ballot.

The position’s creation would also require the approval of both the New York state and Westchester County departments of civil service.

To fill the new hybrid role overseeing the fire and police departments, the city is expected to turn to Police Commissioner Michael Corcoran, who was hired in February.

Corcoran told the Review that no one has yet formally approached him for the role, but said he works in conjunction with the Fire Department frequently.