PRESS RELEASE: The PBA of New York State Calls on Governor Hochul to Sign 20-Year Retirement Parity Bill for Members
Friday, December 01, 2023Law Would Help Recruit and Retain Diverse Officers and Support Governor’s Female 30x30 Recruitment Initiative.
Albany, NY (December 1, 2023) – The PBA of New York State (PBANYS) today respectfully and strongly called on Governor Hochul to enact their 20-year retirement legislation as a critical step to achieving her laudable goals of increasing diversity in law enforcement including achieving 30% female representation by 2030. These goals, as well as the safety of New York’s natural resources, public university campuses, and historic sites are imperiled by the mass exodus of highly specialized officers and recruitment shortfalls resulting from an antiquated 25-year pension.
“The Governor has an historic opportunity to help us recruit and retain more women within our ranks, said Nancy Ganswindt, PBA of New York State Vice President. “For too long our agencies have lost diverse officers, including highly qualified women, to departments offering better compensation and benefits. The 20-Year Retirement and 30x30 Initiative will reverse that by showing women and diverse individuals that law enforcement is a career in which you can both serve your community and provide a financially secure future for your family.”
James McCartney, President of the PBA of New York State, said, “For the fourth year in a row the state legislature has passed our 20-year retirement parity legislation with near unanimous bi-partisan support. Environmental groups across the state support this critical legislation, as do state agency commissioners and fellow law enforcement agencies. In fact, the groups which normally oppose bills with budgetary impact have not raised concerns because they recognize the savings to the state by stemming the mass exodus of officers. Rarely do so many diverging interests come together to support an issue.”
In addition to its commitment to meeting Governor Hochul’s goals of diversifying law enforcement ranks through the 30x30 Initiative and by focusing on underrepresented communities, PBANYS is equally committed to continuing our core mission of protecting and strengthening the communities our members serve.
From safeguarding public university campuses to facilitate the free exchange of ideas, to protecting our natural resources and enforcing environmental safety laws to promote environmental justice within urban communities that disproportionately suffer from pollution, our members protect the public in ways not commonly associated with law enforcement. Our focus on community policing is what sets us apart and reinforces why we cannot lose these highly experienced and specialized officers to agencies where their unique skillsets and experience will be lost to the people of New York state.
Time and again, when New Yorkers are in their hour of need, the members of PBANYS have been called upon – and every time they’ve risen to the occasion. From the deadly winter storms of 2022 to the torrential rains and floods of this past spring, officers from the State Park Police, University Police, Environmental Conservation Police, and Forest Rangers left their families behind to safeguard others.
When more than 80 million people visit New York State Parks each year they do so under the watchful eyes of the Park Police who are there not only to protect the public, but to enhance their experience. Hikers and hunters alike safely commune with nature knowing that Forest Rangers and Environmental Conservation Officers will come to their aid when needed. Millions of State University of New York students, faculty, and staff live, learn, and earn in safety thanks to our State University Police Officers who strive to keep the dangers of the world off our state campuses.
PBANYS stands ready to work with Governor Hochul to ensure that the community focused policing that our member agencies are renowned for endures. We are asking the Governor to support our shared goals by providing our members with pension parity so that the officers who have committed themselves to these specialized missions and protecting these unique communities can afford to continue to do so while ensuring the financial security of their own families.
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ABOUT the PBA of New York State: Established in 2011, the Police Benevolent Association of New York State (PBA of New York State), is a law enforcement labor union representing the interests of approximately 1,100 members of the New York State Agency Police Services Unit (APSU). The PBA of New York State is the exclusive bargaining agent for the New York State University (SUNY) Police, the New York State Environmental Conservation Police, the New York State Park Police, and the New York State Forest Rangers. Our members police and protect New York State’s public universities and colleges; state parks and historic sites; and they enforce state laws and protect our lands and forests and ensure environmental safety and quality throughout the state.
