More Funding At Stake
Court Unions Try For Police Status

By REUVEN BLAU

The unions representing Court Officers are lobbying the State Legislature to approve a bill to grant their members police officer status, which would increase training and funding.

DENNIS QUIRK: Needs Assembly's okay.

The legislation last year was passed by the State Senate, but never reached a vote in the Assembly. "We are starting over again," said Dennis W. Quirk, president of the Court Officers Association. "We are hopeful it will pass."

More Federal Money

The bill (A7863/S5565-A) would make the state's approximately 4,000 Court Officers eligible to apply for Federal funding for new equipment, improved vehicles, and added training, pointed out John McKillop, president of the Supreme Court Officers Association.

The measure, which would necessitate that Court Officers receive added instruction, is being sponsored in the Assembly by Codes Committee Chairman Joseph P. Lentol (D-Brooklyn) and in the Senate by Martin J. Golden (D-Brooklyn). The bill was first reported in the New York Law Journal.

JOHN McKILLOP: Added authority is deserved.

The Office of Court Administration has voiced several concerns about the legislation but has not actively opposed it. OCA officials are worried that the increased training as a result of the reclassification would add to costs and create logistical staffing problems.

Incumbent officers would need to be pulled from the courts to receive the added instruction, said Lawrence K. Marks, the court system's administrative director.

"The additional training wouldn't necessarily enhance court security," he added. "It wouldn't enhance a Court Officer's ability to function as a Police Officer. This would undoubtedly cost us money."

Mr. McKillop maintained the police officer status would not create a major disruption.

'Not a Big Leap'

"Our officers now have basically all of the training requirements of police officers," he remarked during an April 4 phone interview. "So it won't be a significant leap to get the training."

Court Officers already have peace officer status and are allowed to carry guns. Many in the state also have the authority to execute bench warrants.

After 9/11, to boost security OCA created a Command Center, which monitors court facilities 24/7. OCA also launched a Mobile Patrol Unit to protect court facilities at night.

"We are assigned to the city's Office of Emergency Management as well as the anti-terrorist task force," Mr. McKillop noted. "Even though our officers are working side by side other officers, they don't have the same authority - this would correct that."