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Uniformed officers assigned to the Patrol Services Division (PSD)
provide foot and
motor patrol of approximately 16,000 acres of Westchester County
property.
Among the County properties patrolled are those that make up our
parks and
recreational system, the Westchester County Airport, the Westchester
Medical
Center complex, Westchester Community College and numerous other
buildings
which house County government offices. In addition, Westchester
County
police officers provide routine patrols for approximately sixty-six
miles of arterial
roadways that make up the Saw Mill River, Hutchinson River, Cross
County and
Bronx River Parkways. These parkways function as a vital link
between New York
City, the suburbs of Westchester, neighboring counties and the State
of
Connecticut. This parkway network serves thousands of commuters and
residents daily.
|
Average Annual Daily Vehicle Traffic |
|
Saw Mill
River Parkway |
60,000 |
|
Hutchinson River Parkway |
100,000 |
|
Cross
County Parkway |
135,000 |
|
Bronx
River Parkway |
140,000 |
In conjunction with preventive
patrol tactics, officers conduct enforcement
initiatives designed to minimize the loss of life and property
damage caused by
traffic accidents, dangerous driving practices and intoxicated
motorists. Due to
Westchester County’s proximity to New York City and major
thoroughfares, the
parkway system is mistakenly viewed as an attractive alternative for
transient
criminals to transport narcotics through the County. The PSD
regularly conducts
narcotics interdiction activities on the parkway system to seize
narcotics and
deter its transport through Westchester County. The PSD also
provides police
patrols of the County bus system.
The Patrol Services Division
has trained officers who provide services and
assistance within the Department and to local police agencies in the
areas of
accident investigation and reconstruction, response to radiological
related events,
security for special events and serves as instructors for police
recruits and police
supervisors at the Westchester County Police Academy.
During the summer season, the
Patrol Services Division expands patrol coverage
in major County parks by assigning police officers and seasonal park
rangers to
address the increase in pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic. A
seasonal precinct
is established at Playland Amusement Park in Rye to handle the tens
of
thousands of patrons who visit annually.
The Department of Public
Safety provides patrol services in the Town of Cortlandt
from the Northern Command located at Cortlandt Town Hall. The
Department
shares police duties in Cortlandt with the New York State Police.
In 2005, the officers of the
Patrol Services Division affected 1,048 arrests,
responded to over 8,500 disabled vehicles and investigated and
completed reports
for 3,300 vehicular accidents.
Patrol Services Division
officers issued 19,905 summonses for traffic violations,
transported 883 adult prisoners and 187 juvenile prisoners to local
courts.
The Patrol Services Division
continued its emphasis on the removal of alcohol
and drug impaired drivers from County roadways by using targeted
patrol
enforcement and sobriety checkpoints. In 2005, the Department made
352
arrests for DWI related offenses, a 33% increase over the 2004
period. Funding
for these stepped up enforcement efforts was provided in part by the
County
Office of Drug Prevention and Stop DWI Program.
The Patrol Services Division
increased the number of speed and aggressive driving
related summonses issued in calendar year 2005, as compared with
2004. This
initiative was partially funded by the New York State Selective
Traffic Enforcement
Grant Program (STEP). The Speed and Aggressive Driving enforcement
initiative
has made Westchester County roadways safer by deterring speed and
aggressive
driving related violations thereby reducing motor vehicle accidents.
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