Orangetown Board Approves Three New Police Officer Candidates

Orangetown Police Chief Kevin Nulty presented three candidates to fill open positions for officers in the Orangetown Police Department at Wednesday's meeting.

The board voted to approve the nominations of Michael L. Taylor of Pearl River, John A.Helm of Upper Grandview and Amaury R. Lopez of Pearl River to the OPD. Taylor and Lopez were approved with 4-0 votes, with Councilman Tom Morr absent. The vote was 3-0 with Councilman Paul Valentine abstaining on Helm.

Their names will now go back to the Rockland County Department of Personnel. Nominees must go through a physical agility test, psychological test, FBI fingerprinting and a medical exam.

"Once they are certified, their names will be passed back to us so the town board can appoint them permanently," Nulty said. 

Taylor, Helm and Lopez all made the list of candidates for consideration when they took the county police exam in 2008. 

"We called candidates for initial interviews this summer," Nulty said. "We looked at their resumes and grades and figured we were interested in these three."

Orangetown has not hired any police officers in three years, but the board has decided to include hiring three officers as part of the preliminary 2013 budget. These would be replacements for officers who retired in 2012. 

Supervisor Andy Stewart questioned if he should vote on the matter after opposing the hiring of the additional officers.

"I voted against budgeting to hire the three officers," Stewart said. "I will stick by that, but I want to recommend the work the police department has done. I'm sure these candiates are fine, fine people who will be tremendous assets to the department."

"I've been in that position," Councilman Denis Troy said. "I voted against a position, but not the person. I see a distinction between the two. I would advise you not to vote against the person."

Stewart followed that advice and joined in the yes votes on all three.

Check back with Patch for more from Wednesday's meeting, including further discussion of the 2013 budget. There was a public hearing Wednesday, but it was continued to Nov. 13 due to the inclement weather making it difficult for taxpayers to make it to Orangetown Town Hall.