Village of Wappingers Falls Police Department Makes Huge Change

Staffing issues plague a Dutchess County village's police department.

No More Overnight Police Presence in the Village of Wappingers Falls

In a press release shared by The Village of Wappingers Falls, it was announced that starting on November 15th, 2024 the operating hours of The Village Police Department are undergoing a huge change.

The statement goes on to explain that The Village of Wappingers Police Department hours will shift to 8 am to midnight, seven days a week. Meaning "there will no longer be overnight coverage" by The Village Police.

According to the statement this change comes after "exhaustive consideration, dialogue, and review of the options" made available to The Village of Wappingers Police Department.

They go on to cite, like many municipalities across the nation, issues staffing the police department. The Village of Wappingers Falls also adds that there were also issues with the amount of hours their officers could work.

As hard as they tried with different schedules and new hires over a 6 month period, they weren't able to overcome the staffing obstacles.

Will There Be a Police Presence in The Village at All?

Many in the community are voicing their concern as they wonder if there will be any sort of police presence in the area at all now that the Village of Wappingers Falls Police Department is closed over night.

According to the press release there will be police protection. The Village of Wappingers Falls writes "Our Village will continue to have exemplary police protection during the hours when our department is closed, thanks to strong collaboration with neighboring agencies."

Those neighboring agencies include The New York State Police and the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office that "also holds jurisdiction across the county, ensuring that support is available as needed."

Village of Wappingers Residents Voice Their Concerns

Of course a change like this will come as a surprise to some residents across the Village.

The press release, which was shared on social media platforms, has people voicing off in the comments, like one that reads:

As a village resident, this is concerning.

The Wappingers Falls Police Department has a section on their website called Compliments and Complaints, for those wishing to making their voice heard. Learn more at WappingersFallsPolice.org.