Senator Walczyk Two Bills For Ilion Police Department Become Law - The First Two Chapters for the Senator

Senator Mark Walczyk announced Friday that two bills he sponsored have been signed into law by the Governor.  The measures, S7418 and S7419 will help the Ilion Police Department in retaining police officers by granting two separate part-time police officers eligibility to take the civil service exam and become full-time police officers.  These bills are Walczyk's first measures that have been signed into law as a member of the State Senate. 

The Ilion Police Department has a difficult time in recruiting and retaining police officers for their department. Having an insufficient roster of officers for a department provides a public safety hazard and negatively affects the morale of the current officers who are picking up extra shifts to keep the community safe. Ilion currently has two officers who wish to make the leap from part-time to full-time officers for the department. However, with current civil service laws in place, their age deterred them from being eligible to take the civil service exam. These chapters will now allow the two officers the opportunity to take the civil service exam and become full-time officers of the Ilion Police Department.

“When a municipality comes to me with a request for legislation that will drastically increase public safety, carrying that bill through the Senate is a no brainer,” said Senator Walczyk. “ Allowing two very dedicated public servants the opportunity to take the civil service exam and become full-time police officers is a massive win for the Village of Ilion. I’m honored to get this bill signed into law, and it’s not lost on me that my first chapters in the Senate come just miles down the road where I took my oath seven months ago.”

“I am very proud that these two bills were signed into law,” said Assemblyman Robert Smullen. “Making it possible for these two part-time police officers with the Ilion Police Department to complete the civil service exam and join the police force as full-time officers is a powerful step in the right direction for this police department. It is extremely difficult to help keep the public safe with an insufficient number of officers on the force. I am hopeful these two part-timers successfully become full-time officers and this situation helps pave the way for similar steps to be taken with other local police departments in need of qualified personnel.”

“On behalf of the Ilion Board of Trustees and the Office of the Mayor, I would like to thank Senator Walczyk and his staff for their assistance in this legislative issue,” said Mayor John Stephens. “They were able to present these two bills and get them passed in the Senate to allow two experienced and well trained law enforcement officers the ability to sit for the next civil service exam. A huge win for the public safety of the Village of Ilion. I’d also like to thank Assemblyman Robert Smullen for carrying this bill through the Assembly and Governor Hochul for signing this important legislation into law.”

“These bills will allow us the opportunity to have two of our very qualified part-time officers be promoted to full-time upon the passage of the civil service exam. It will be an enormous benefit to the Ilion Police Department that has been short staffed for more than three years,” said Chief of Police Laurie DeVaul. “This legislation will alleviate staffing burnout and allow the department to provide the village with the services it rightly deserves. Thank you to our State Legislators and Governor for recognizing this important issue and assisting in enacting this important law.”

Senator Mark Walczyk represents the 49th Senate District, which includes the entire counties of Jefferson, Lewis, Hamilton and Fulton. As well as parts of Oswego, St. Lawrence, and Herkimer counties. Sign up for exclusive updates from the Senator via his weekly newsletter by clicking HERE or by emailing walczyk@nysenate.gov.