Concern over who's guarding NYC's water supply

(New York- WABC, April 3, 2006) (WABC) -- There is serious concern tonight over who is guarding New York's precious water supply.

Instead of watching over the area's largest resevoir against terrorists, the Department of Environmental police are being used to collect water samples.

The Investigators Jim Hoffer has the story.

We reported last month how understaffed the DEP police force is. Now we've learned that some of its officers are being used to fill in for suspended water samplers. It's further proof some say that the DEP just doesn't get security.

What are the Department of Environmental police officers taking water samples? They are supposed to be guarding New York's water supply against sabotage or polluters. But for the past two weeks, an officer and a detective have been working full-time collecting and testing water samples.

Peter Vallone, D-NYC Councilman: "It doesn't make any sense at all. We spend six months of time and money training these officers to patrol and protect these reservoirs from some things like terrorist attacks. They take them away from that duty to test the water is just completely unacceptable."

Two weeks ago, an Eyewitness News investigation revealed how the DEP Police force is rapidly shrinking with only 156 officers patrolling 19 reserovirs. Now we've learned that the thinly stretched police force has temporarily given up two of its officers to collect water samples.

This comes after several DEP water inspectors were suspended for improper water monitoring. It could be months before the two officers return to their patrols.

Kenneth Wynder, DEP Police Union: "I don't see why you would use police officers to pick up water samples ... DEP has over six thousand poeple who work for them, pull from there, why pull from the police department?"

One of the police officers was assigned to this reservoir. We won't give its location because of security reasons, but suffice it to say it's one of the most important reservoirs in the entire water system. Police here are forced to work overtime because of staffing shortages.

The DEP says the police officer and detective collecting water samples will return to their policing duties when additional technicians are hired.

So rather than patrolling or investigating cases at the most important reservoir, two officers spend their shift collecting water, which the chair of city council's public safety committee says is further proof that the DEP has placed security of the city's drinking supply far down on its list of priorities.

Vallone: "They have lowered the amount of officers to do this sort of clerical work. It just doesn't make any sense to me."

The DEP says it hopes to eventually train all police officers in water sampling.

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