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Cicero hires Joseph C. Cook as full-time police officer; board accepts multiple donations including $300 from '4 20 shop'
Summary
The Town of Cicero board approved hiring Joseph C. Cook as a New York State DCJS-certified police officer effective Jan. 15, 2026, and accepted several donations to the police community-policing program — including a $300 contribution from a business a public commenter said had prior enforcement action.
The Town of Cicero board voted to hire Joseph C. Cook as a New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) certified full-time police officer at a starting salary of $82,125 per year, effective Jan. 15, 2026. The resolution was moved and seconded and adopted by a voice vote.
After the hire, the oath of office was administered. The town’s police chief invited residents to contact the department directly with questions, saying his office door is open and urging residents to set appointments or send emails for follow-up.
The board also approved several donations to the Cicero Police Department’s Community Policing Program during the same meeting. Resolutions were adopted to accept: $10,000 from Driver’s Village; $50 from Christine Denise; $300 from the “4 20 shop”; and additional donations including $250 from El Rancho Viejo LLC. Each donation was accepted by voice vote.
During public comment, resident Judy Boykey asked why the contractor Superior’s monthly billings rose after the town extended that contract, citing abstract numbers. Another resident raised fiscal-transparency concerns and asked the town to publish an annual, plain-English summary tying staffing decisions to multiyear costs such as pensions and other post-employment benefits.
That resident also urged the board to reconsider accepting the $300 donation from the “4 20 shop,” saying the business had previously been shut down by the New York State Cannabis Control authority and alleging the shop still sold products illegal in New York State (the commenter named flavored vapes). The transcript shows the comment as an expression of concern; the board did not reverse acceptance of the donation during the meeting.
The police chief responded to the public by encouraging direct contact with the department for questions and said staff would provide written responses when requested. No formal policy change on donation acceptance was proposed at the meeting.
What happens next: the hire is effective Jan. 15, 2026, and accepted donations will be used for the Community Policing Program. Residents seeking more detail on contractor rates or on the town’s donations policy were advised to contact town staff for follow-up.
