May 31, 2010, Yonkers, NY -- The Yonkers Tribune last week learned Civil Service Commissioner Victor Pacheco had scheduled physical Agility Tests for June 6 and June 13, 2010, respectively. These tests are given to potential future Yonkers Police employees. The Yonkers Police Department advise they are without a civil service list for the position of Police Officer at this time, stressing the need to establish a certified list of eligible candidates and noting that once conducted, the tests are regarded valid for 4 years duration. The agility tests suggest a future “plan" for employment while City Hall is adamant about needing to reduce YPD costs by firing present staff.
“This is standard operational procedure and will be done in preparation for any future police hiring. There is a lengthy process that takes place to get candidates ready for any future classes that may be scheduled. Members of our Intelligence Unit will be on hand on limited overtime to monitor the testing and start the background process on the candidates,” wrote YPD Det. Sgt. Patrick McCormack in response to the Yonkers Tribune inquiry. YPD advise each applicant pays $25.00 to offset the costs associated with this process.
City Hall asserts they will not hire Police Officers at this time. It therefore seems foolhardy to undergo this process during Yonkers’ financial crisis. Going through with these tests suggest otherwise. Which is it?
So what is the point? Is this an attempt to cover up Civil Service Commissioner Pacheco not previously conducting the test? Has his inferred oversight left YPD bereft of valid Agility Test candidates from which the best qualified to serve among the YPD at some future date may be gleaned? Since these tests are said to be valid for 4 years, and since the application fee charged mitigates the testing cost process, including the Sunday overtime pay incurred, what is the logic of these tests not previously been conducted? No matter the reasons or excuses, must these tests be conducted in the midst of the biggest financial crisis ever to befall Yonkers?
Perhaps the tests are meant to instill fear among the most recent hires who lack seniority among the cadre of YPD. They would be the first to go if Mayor Amicone’s prognostications are to be believed. If the purpose was to instill fear, it has succeeded.
The time is propitious for Civil Service Commissioner Pacheco, Yonkers Police Commissioner Edmund Hartnett, Finance Commissioner James LaPerche, and Yonkers Mayor Phil Amicone to sit down together to thrash out a plan that avoids wasting time following a process that has become moot by the nature of the onerous financial crisis Yonkers has yet to solve. Perhaps they will forego these tests another year to save the City of Yonkers time better served elsewhere, and possibly find a few heretofore unrecognized bucks in the process. One can only hope.
