SCHUMER REVEALS: LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ACROSS THE HUDSON VALLEY ARE OWED THEIR SHARE OF MILLIONS BY THE FEDS, BUT FUNDING HAS BEEN CAUGHT IN BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS FOR YEARS; SENATOR SAYS ENOUGH IS ENOUGH AND DEMANDS ACTION FROM FEDS TO HONOR COMMITMENT TO HUDSON VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENTS

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"Our Hudson Valley cops risk their lives every day to protect their communities, and have gone above and beyond to assist federal law enforcement officials in busting organized drug trafficking rings to keep our entire region safe. The least we can do is pay them for the important work they have done, and provide them with partnership funding needed to continue to safeguard our communities. I understand that processing these cases takes times, and we have to get it right, but they've waited up to four years in some cases, which strains budgets, and makes planning difficult as a result of not knowing when they will receive funding they are owed,

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This unacceptable delay has caused undue financial strain on these departments, hindering their ability to continue their crucial work effectively."

Specifically, the senator said the Rockland County Sheriff's Office and the other police departments, as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Westchester Tactical Diversion Squad Task Force, played a pivotal role in a landmark case against the Rochester Drug Cooperative (RDC). In April 2019, the RDC and its executives were indicted by the DOJ under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) for their involvement in the illegal sale of opioids and their failure to report suspicious orders. The investigation exposed the extent of unlawfully distributed opioids and the unscrupulous practices that had plagued our communities for years.

Despite DOJ receiving a substantial sum of $16,167,934.26 as part of the case, the local police departments involved in the Task Force, such as the Rockland County Sheriff's Office, have yet to receive their rightful share. This delay has created an unjust situation, that Schumer is determined to address, demanding that the DOJ expedite the payment process and ensuring that the department that employs these dedicated officers receives the compensation it has long awaited.

Addressing the various law enforcement agencies, Schumer acknowledged the dedication and cooperation of the Hudson Valley police officers, who have played an invaluable role in partnering with federal law enforcement officials.

Schumer said, "They've worked tirelessly to remove dangerous drugs, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, from our streets."

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