Yonkers, NY -- March 31, 2010 -- In October of 2008, the Yonkers Police Department Uniform Review Committee met to make recommendations concerning the current police uniform. The committee was comprised of supervisory and non-supervisory personnel who conducted research, interviews and surveys to identify potential improvements to the Department’s uniform. The committee consulted with several different vendors and also had to consider various collective bargaining agreements in making their recommendations. In August of 2009 the Uniform Review Committee submitted a final report containing numerous recommended changes to the Police Commissioner. One of these recommendations was the adding of nameplates to the Department uniform. A revised uniform policy is currently near completion.
The first phase of changes in the uniform will be the requirement to wear nameplates. Future phases will include Yonkers Police Department patches on both sleeves, improved uniform pants, upgraded uniform raincoat, elimination of the baseball hat, and designation of the traditional eight point police hat.
On a related note, in an effort to clear up some recent confusion, the Yonkers Police Department was not given a mandate by the Department of Justice to implement the wearing of nameplates by March 31, 2010. More accurately, the implementation of nameplates as of March 31, 2010 is, as stated, the first phase of several recommended changes to the Department’s official uniform that were made by the Yonkers Police Department Uniform Review Committee. Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett said “The various changes to the police uniform will increase functionality, enhance our professional image, and strengthen our relationship with the community.”
On March 30, 2010 at 10:21 a.m. police responded to the Bronx River Parkway near Palmer Rd on a report of an occupied vehicle submerged in water. Officers Kevin MacDonald and Glen Wyka were the first to respond and observed a green pick-up truck in the southbound lane almost completely submerged in the water. They were able to see an elderly male inside the pick-up truck desperately trying to keep his head above the water line. Compounding the seriousness of this incident was the fact that the vehicle was floating in a southbound direction toward Palmer Rd. Officer MacDonald entered the water and made his way onto the roof of the vehicle. Officer MacDonald asked the driver if anyone else was inside the vehicle to which the driver replied, no. Officer MacDonald then asked the driver if he was hurt to which he replied no, but that he could not free himself from the vehicle. Officer MacDonald reassured the driver telling him that he would get him out. With the driver’s compartment becoming completely submerged, Officer MacDonald pulled the driver by his free arm and was able to get him partially out of the vehicle. MacDonald then entered the cab of the pick-up truck, released the seatbelt, and grabbed the driver lifting him out of the vehicle and onto the roof. Officer Wyka, who was standing on the embankment, was joined by Westchester County Police who retrieved a safety line from their vehicle, secured it to a large tree and tossed the line to Officer MacDonald. The line was tied under the driver’s arms and around his chest. At this point Yonkers Fire Department personnel arrived and life preservers were thrown to Officer MacDonald, who donned his own, and then placed one on the victim. Yonkers Police ESU officers on scene passed a ladder to MacDonald who attempted to move the driver to the ladder. The driver was experiencing the effects of hypothermia and was unable to move onto the ladder. A Reeves basket was pulled across the ladder and the victim was successfully rescued from the vehicle. The victim, a 77 year old male from Thornwood, NY, was then transported to Lawrence Hospital where he was admitted for treatment of hypothermia.
On March 30, 2010 at 10:00 p.m. a 55 year old Yonkers resident reported that while walking in the area of 300 Palisade Av., two unknown Hispanic males ran up from behind her and grabbed her purse containing $50.00 in cash and a NYS Driver License. The suspects, both about 14 years of age and wearing black shirts, fled south on Palisade Av. The purse snatch was reported to the police about one half hour after the incident. Police canvassed the area with negative results.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Yonkers Police at 377-7725.
