Nyack Police to Remain on Foot, in Village

After the announcement that Orangetown Police were , the reaction was swift—merchants decried the decision and circulated a petition, Nyack officials labeled the treatment "second-rate" and residents took to posting a deluge of opinions on Facebook.

But despite the outcry and —which saw over 300 signatures and has been submitted to Orangetown officials—it seemed there was little Orangetown Police could do. The decision was based firmly on finances: three officers remains injured after an alleged , and overtime costs became exorbitant. (Just this year alone, about $155,000 has been spent in overtime covering Nyack's entertainment district.)

Orangetown and Nyack have reached a short-term stop-gap, however, according to Nyack trustee and police liaison Jen Laird-White.

Neil O'Donnell, the Nyack-centric officer who was to be redeployed and removed from his Main Street beat, will remain in the village five days a week. He will also do foot patrol on certain nights, when the village sees underage drinking and violent crime.

"We have someone who knows Nyack, who likes Nyack, who cares about the community," Laird-White said.

When O'Donnell is absent, one of two other officers will take his place. "It is an effective compromise," Laird-White added, noting Nyack will not be seeing less police hours—just different ones.

Kevin Nulty, Orangetown's chief of police, could not be reached for comment on the new developments. In recent interviews, Nulty noted he is committed to comprehensive police coverage of Nyack—especially on chaotic weekend nights and early mornings.