Res. No. 841 Title Resolution urging the New York Police Department to create a reserve police force, consisting of retired police officers and detectives, for anti-terrorism duties. Body By Council Members Oddo, Vallone, Addabbo, Avella, Comrie, Fidler, Jackson, Jennings, Katz, Liu, Monserrate, Nelson, Quinn and Lanza Whereas, There is currently no reserve police force that can be deployed on short notice to aid federal, state, and local law enforcement officers in the case of a terrorist attack; and Whereas, Law enforcement officers cannot be expected to work for long periods of time in a post attack environment or under a constant state of alert without adequate relief while at the same time maintaining a high level of effectiveness; and Whereas, The National Guard forces will not always be available to fully assist the New York law enforcement community during times when the threat of terrorism is dangerously high, especially when they are involved in fighting a war overseas; and Whereas, Three hundred New York police officers have been called to fight in the war in Iraq to fulfill their duty as military reservists, leaving the NYPD with the lowest number of officers assigned to precincts since 1990; and Whereas, Operation Atlas costs the already financially-burdened New York City five million dollars a week in an effort to keep New Yorkers safe from terrorist attacks; and Whereas, Taking into consideration the heightened threat of terrorism because of the war in Iraq, New York City should take advantage of the untapped wealth of willing volunteers who would serve their community free of charge and who already have decades of experience in the field; and Whereas, There are approximately 25,000 retired members of the NYPD currently living in the New York metropolitan area, many of whom have served in the police force for over 20 years; and Whereas, Judging from responses of retired law enforcement officers to a recent article that appeared in the Daily News, proposing a reserve police force comprised of retired police officers, these seasoned veterans of the NYPD are enthusiastic about being called to duty to protect their city and wholeheartedly support this proposal; and Whereas, By using retired law enforcement officers to perform less sensitive yet necessary assignments, an equal number of active duty personnel would be free to be reassigned for more vital street duty, allowing the government to dramatically increase law enforcement and security services in the case of an emergency; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York urges the New York Police Department to create a reserve police force, consisting of retired police officers and detectives, for anti-terrorism duties. TB LS#2234