Rye’s City Council unanimously agreed to amend police residency rules Wednesday, allowing officers to live outside of Westchester County.
A public hearing was opened and closed without any discussion or debate from the public or members of the council. The council’s unanimous decision brings the city’s law enforcement rules in line with many of its Westchester neighbors by expanding where officers can live.
The rationale for broadening the city’s hiring pool, beyond the residency requirements currently outlined in New York State law, was described more in-depth at the previous council meeting on July 15.
“Right now, we do not have a chapter in our code that addresses employee residency for police officers,” Corporation Counsel Kristen Wilson said.
The proposal was submitted at the request of Public Safety Commissioner Michael Kopy. City officials said the change would help recruit qualified officers by expanding the number of eligible applicants, while aligning Rye’s code with other municipalities in the region, including Rye Brook, Bedford, Harrison, Briarcliff Manor, Mount Pleasant, Ossining, Tarrytown, and the Westchester County Department of Public Safety.
“The practical effect is relatively limited, but it does bring Rye into alignment with most of the other Westchester municipalities,” said City Manager Brian Shea.
