Law Enforcement Personnel
What does this measure?
This indicator tracks the number of full-time sworn law enforcement officers in Orange County municipalities, including towns, villages, and cities. It provides a breakdown of personnel for local police departments and the county sheriff, along with civilian staff counts. The data also compares the ratio of residents to officers across multiple years—2005, 2010, 2013, and 2023—to show staffing trends and coverage levels. Notes clarify overlapping police coverage and special arrangements for certain towns and villages.
Summary Statement
Law enforcement staffing in Orange County municipalities has fluctuated over time, but the residents-to-officer ratio has remained relatively stable in many areas.
In 2023, there were 786 municipal police officers and 193 county sheriff officers, totaling 979 sworn personnel across the county.
The average ratio for towns was approximately 430 residents per officer, with variation by municipality: for example, Blooming Grove had 1,272 residents per officer, while Warwick had 867 residents per officer.
Cities had higher staffing levels: Middletown reported 67 officers (390 residents per officer), and Newburgh had 43 officers (415 residents per officer).
Civilian staff accounted for 242 positions, bringing the total law enforcement workforce to 1,230.
The data highlights differences in coverage, with some towns relying on both local police and the county sheriff, and others sharing coverage with neighboring municipalities.
Sources
Individual Municipalities
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Uniform Crime Reporting System
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/crimnet/ojsa/2010-le-personnel.pdf
http://www.orangecountygov.com/filestorage/124/912/2010_ANNUAL_REPORT_DA_-_2-23-11.pdf
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, Uniform Crime Reporting System
http://criminaljustice.state.ny.us/crimnet/ojsa/2013-le-personnel.pdf