Last week the Marlborough Town Board hired Mike Sotanski as a third, full-time sergeant, to cover the 11 p.m. - 7 a.m. shift. Police Chief Gerald Cocozza has advocated for a third position that not only will place a much needed Sergeant in this time slot, but will also be able to help with the ever increasing demands for documents, paperwork and film evidence that has been mandated by the new Discovery laws. Sotanski has been with the department for 12 years and will start in his new position on March 1st.

Chief Cocozza said this new hire will allow another one of his officers to continue serving in the Ulster County URGENT Drug Task Force for three days a week.

“I didn’t have to cut that, so it’s a win-win for me,” he said. “They have some big cases that they’re working on and definitely worth the money that we’re spending.”

Sgt. Sotanski will begin by assisting the other two sergeants with arrest and case reports, will cover Chief Cocozza’s portion of Discovery by making copies of the police booking room videos and radio communications. He will also work with 911 to get their communications copied for Discovery, continue to monitor and update the sex offender registry and review warrants.

“That’s a big chuck of the major things but he’ll be taking over other things as well,” Cocozza said.

Cocozza said Sotanski passed the sergeant’s test that made him civil service qualified.

“I’m very excited about getting the additional help and supervision that will now allow us to have 24 hours a day for the patrol officers,” he said.

Sotanski is looking forward to his new position.

“I’m happy, I’m excited and I am honored that the Chief as well as the town board selected me to be part of the police administration to serve the town,” he said.

Sotanski does not mind the overnight shift.

“I started my career there and it allows me to get more administrative work done because the call volume isn’t as crazy,” he said.

Supervisor Scott Corcoran said having a third sergeant to handle the overnight shift will be a positive step for the department. He explained how this position will be funded.

“We have some extra money budgeted for overtime and for part-time and full time that we are going to transfer over to this position for this year. We’re going to keep the URGENT officer in place as is currently budgeted for,” he said. “In next years’ budget we’re going to re-evaluate on whether we keep those budget lines the same as we’re doing now, do we cut some other funding or make it up. As for now there isn’t any additional cost to the taxpayers as we’re working within the budget that we currently have.”

Corcoran said the town board spent a lot of time considering this position and were in favor of it because of the significant amount of new state mandates to meet the Discovery guidelines.

Corcoran said Sotanski, “is a great officer and we’re lucky to have him.”