White Plains Welcomes New Officers in Ceremony
By Sam Barron
There will soon be two new police officers in the White Plains Police Department.
On Friday, Elizabeth Barksdale and Nicole Maselli were sworn in as police officers and will be heading to the Westchester Police Academy.
Barksdale, a Mahopac resident, previously served as a dispatcher for the city while Maselli, a West Harrison resident, was a dispatcher for Mount Pleasant.
“Thank you for your service,” Mayor Tom Roach said. “We wish you the best. Be careful. I don’t like getting any phone calls. I look forward to seeing you around.”
David Chong, the Commissioner of Public Safety for White Plains, said that police officers in the city are part social workers, problem solvers and psychologists.
“You are the most visible part of government because you wear that uniform,” Chong said. “We have the utmost confidence in you.”
Chong also implored the families to offer their full support to the new police officers.
“You see some of the worst things people see,” Chong said. “Sometimes they come home with heavy hearts. It is a difficult job.”
Barksdale, who grew up in White Plains, said she wanted to be a police officer so she could contribute to the community.
“I’m thrilled,” Barksdale said. “I just want to serve.”
Maselli said the moment was surreal for her. Her father served as bureau chief in the Westchester District Attorney’s Office and much of her family is in law enforcement.
“I was ecstatic when I found out I was going to be a police officer,” Maselli said. “I’ve always wanted to be in law enforcement. I look forward to getting to know the citizens of White Plains.”
Roach said that White Plains police officers are top of the line and he believes Maselli and Barksdale will continue that tradition.
“Every interaction I’ve had with a police officer has been first class,” Roach said. “We are a safe city and a hub of the region.”
Chong said that the city was not looking to hire women but that Maselli and Barksdale were the two best candidates.
“They bring everything we want,” Chong said. “We couldn’t have selected two better people.”
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.