In 2008, the men and women of the Department of Public Safety demonstrated yet again their unwavering commitment to the safety and security of all who live, work or recreate in Westchester County. 

The most visible impact our Department has on public safety each day is on our parkways, where our officers have had extraordinary success.  By apprehending intoxicated drivers, curbing aggressive driving and reducing accidents, our uniformed patrol officers have made Westchester’s parkways safer for those who travel them.

During 2008, the Patrol Services Division made 588 arrests of motorists who were driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – a record high for this department and a tremendous achievement.  A vehicle being operated by an intoxicated driver is the equivalent of a 2,000-pound speeding bullet that poses a grave danger to all other motorists.  While we can tell you how many DWI arrests were made, we will never know how many lives were saved or injuries prevented as a result of this vigorous DWI enforcement.

The Patrol Division’s success does not stop there.  In 2008, the number of total arrests made and summonses issued was again at an all-time high.  Traffic accidents declined 8% from the previous year and accidents with injuries fell further, by 9.5%.  In specially designated Crash Control Zones, patrolled by a special unit with the mission of reducing accidents, the number of accidents dropped 68%.  These Crash Control Zones are selected by continually making a statistical analysis of where accidents are occurring and then developing enforcement and public education strategies to reduce them. 

The Investigative Services Division also had a great year in 2008. Cold Case detectives from the General Investigation Unit closed an exhaustive investigation with the arrest of a suspect in a homicide that occurred 25 years-ago.  The Warrant-Fugitive Unit tracked down hundreds of suspects wanted on warrants, including several who had evaded justice for 30 years or more.  The Narcotics Unit seized significant quantities of illegal narcotics, including 10 kilos of cocaine in a single case in Yonkers, and worked side-by-side with local law enforcement in numerous Westchester communities to drive drug dealers from residential neighborhoods.

The tremendous expertise of our Forensic Investigation Unit was recognized in 2008 by the American Society of Crime Lab Directors/Laboratory Accreditation Board and the New York State Forensic Science Commission.  The county police crime lab run by FIU is accredited in the disciplines of Crime Scene, Latent Prints, Ballistics and Digital Evidence.  The accreditations are an acknowledgement that our crime lab is meeting or exceeding the highest standards and best practices in the law enforcement community.

The Special Operations Division continued to provide invaluable assistance not only to this department, but to all police agencies in Westchester.

The Aviation Unit frequently supported local law enforcement in apprehending suspects fleeing crime scenes in vehicles or on foot. In addition, the Aviation Unit assisted fire departments around Westchester at several major fires by using the helicopter’s Bambi Bucket to drop water onto fires. The Bomb Squad, a county police resource that exists primarily as a service to Westchester’s municipalities, safely removed explosive devices and materials, investigated suspicious packages and conducted security sweeps of schools and other public facilities.  The Marine Unit continued to safeguard Westchester’s shorelines, making numerous rescues of boaters in distress and providing harbor security for our waterfront communities. 

We are grateful as always for the leadership of County Executive Andy Spano, whose support for this Department makes our successes possible.  The Board of Legislators continues to be an invaluable partner as well in helping this Department to fulfill its mission. 

Thomas Belfiore

Commissioner-Sheriff