By Robert Harding
The Citizen, Auburn, N.Y.
ALBANY, N.Y. — Amid criticism of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive order, the state has notified local governments that a ban on hiring fired correction officers is temporary and will expire in two weeks.
Jackie Bray, commissioner of the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services , sent a letter to three organizations representing local governments — the New York State Association of Counties , the New York Conference of Mayors and the New York Association of Towns — detailing the executive order and clarifying the prohibition on hiring the fired officers.
In the letter, which was obtained by The Citizen, Bray explains that a portion of the executive order suspended local laws “to the extent necessary to prohibit the appointment, transfer and promotion of any correction officers who separated from employment in connection with the illegal strike for the duration of the applicable provisions of the order (through April 9).”
Bray added that the ban is temporary and the state “does not intend to renew these provisions of the order.”
“That means any local government would be able to hire any terminated correction officer any time on or after April 10,” she said.
Hochul’s executive order was issued after the end of a three-week correction officer strike. More than 2,000 officers were fired for not reporting to duty by the state-imposed deadline.
The directive prevents state agencies from hiring the fired officers. It also requires the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to report the former officers to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services, which would decertify them as peace officers.
Although state officials say the ban is temporary, local government leaders have criticized the order. Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck described it as “an overreach by our state government” in a social media post. The Cayuga County Legislature will vote at its meeting Tuesday on a resolution opposing the ban.
Chemung and Oneida counties filed lawsuits challenging Hochul’s prohibition on hiring the fired correction officers.
Bray’s letter is the state’s response to the blowback from local leaders. While local governments will be allowed to hire the fired correction officers after the provision expires on April 9, she reminds them that the fired officers “had a sworn responsibility to protect the public, their colleagues and the incarcerated population.” By participating in the strike, she says "[t]hey willfully disregarded that responsibility.”
The letter also reminds local governments that the fired correction officers will lose their peace officer status, meaning they will need to be recertified. Counties that hire the fired officers will be responsible for ensuring they complete peace officer training within one year after their employment begins, according to Bray.
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