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County Legislator Takes A Ride With Yonkers Police

YONKERS, N.Y. – One Westchester County legislator took a day off from policymaking to get an up-close look at the Yonkers Police Department in action.

Legislator Virginia Perez (D-Yonkers) joined a Yonkers patrol officer during a ride along last week. She reported seeing police respond to calls of domestic violence, gang fights, drug deals and a stabbing.

In all, Perez rode with the officer for an entire shift, from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., and said the unique perspective gave her a deeper respect for the work police do.

“Yonkers police officers are dealing with a lot of incredible things happening on a daily basis, and I wanted to see firsthand what a typical shift would be like,” Perez, who serves as chair of the Westchester County Board of Legislators’ Public Safety and Security Committee, said in a press release.

A southwest Yonkers native, Perez said she toured the neighborhood Friday night during the ride along and saw a community that was struggling – both financially and in its willingness to cooperate with police officers.

“One of the things that shocked me the most was when we responded to an emergency call and arrived at the scene to see a woman bleeding from knife wounds. She refused to cooperate with the police and was already actively organizing a plot for retaliation,” Perez said.

Perez has taken a hard stance on public safety issues since she took office in November – a goal motivated by the 2007 murder of her brother, Martin.

The 25-year-old deliveryman was ambushed by a Yonkers gang member intent on robbing him when he brought food to the man’s building. The senseless killing was what motivated Perez to get involved in politics and continue to advocate for public safety today, she has said.

“In order for us to bring about a positive change, we must work together to break the cycle of senseless violence in our communities,” she said.

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