Mid Hudson Times Apr. 06 2016 | Page 4

4 Mid Hudson Times, Wednesday, April 6, 2016 City of Newburgh signs 7-year contract with PBA By SHANTAL RILEY [email protected] The City of Newburgh has signed a seven-year contract with the Newburgh City Police Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association. The contract gives city police their first raises since 2006. “It’s fair for both sides,” said PBA President Mike Pitt. The agreement provides raises of between 1.5 and 2 percent per year for all city police patrolmen and detectives, along with yearly bonuses for some. “Anyone who has worked continuously for seven years or more gets a longevity bonus on their anniversary date,” Detective Pitt said. Under the contract, all members will begin making contributions to health-insurance premiums. “Anyone who was here prior to this contract didn’t contribute to their health-insurance premiums,” Pitt said. “Now every member of the union, from the day they are hired until the day they retire, have to contribute to their insurance premiums.” The contract retroactively covers a period between 2015 to 2021. After about three years of contract negotiations, the agreement provides PBA members with much-needed stability, Pitt said. “You know once you start working here that every year you’ll get a bump in your salary,” he said. The starting salary for city police officers is now $40,800. Pitt said. “We’re nowhere at par with other city police agencies in terms of salary,” Pitt said, pointing out that City of Middletown police officers start out at roughly $54,000. “We needed to get it done.” Pitt said the City of Newburgh is currently negotiating a separate agreement with the Police Superior Officers Association. Community First. Why don't you Save for a rainy day Savings Options Include: Visit us at www.wallkill.com 845-895-2051 City of Newburgh Police arrested 23-year-old Calvin Lembhard, of Newburgh, last Thursday, in connection with a shooting that occurred a day earlier. It is alleged that Lembhard fired multiple shots at an occupied vehicle at approximately 11 p.m., in the area of 28 Varrick Homes.. The vehicle was struck multiple times. None of the occupants were struck and no injuries were reported. Police are not releasing the names of the occupants of the vehicle. The firearm used has yet to be recovered. Lembhard was charged with one count of Attempted Assault in the 1st Degree (class C Felony), one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the 2”d Degree (class C Felony) and Violation of Parole. Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact City of Newburgh Police at 5613131 Lembhard is the brother of Michael Lembhard, who was shot and killed by Newburgh police in 2012 after police say he lunged at them with a knife. The city council, in January of this year, approved an $81,378 settlement with the Lembhard family in the case. An 18-year-old Newburgh male is reportedly recovering from gunshot wounds he sustained early Sunday morning. On April 3, 2016 at approximately 1:10 a.m. an 18-year-old male City of Newburgh resident presented himself at St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital with gunshot wounds. His name is not being released at this time. Police report he suffered one wound to each of his thighs and a wound to a finger. None of the injuries is considered life-threatening. He reported to police that he had been shot in the area of 126 Broadway a short time earlier. A suspect has yet to be identified. This is an open investigation and anyone with information is urged to call City of New burgh Police at 561-3131. Teen charged in robbery-shooting Interest Bearing Savings Accounts Certificates of Deposits Money Market Accounts IRAs Locations in: Wallkill * Highland Falls * Milton * Maybrook Newburgh man charged in Varrick homes shooting Newburgh man a shooting victim 100 years of excellence • • • • In Brief NMLS# 404992 City of Newburgh Police arrested a 16-year-old Newburgh resident Thursday, in connection with an armed robbery shooting that occurred on the previous Sunday at approximately 1:35 p.m. in the area of 42 Fullerton Ave. The name of the arrestee is not being released due to his age. He was charged with two counts of Robbery in the 1st Degree (class B Felony), one count of Robbery in the 2nd Degree (class C Felony) and one count of Assault in the 1st Degree (class B Felony). The firearm used has yet to be recovered. )Q