Police from across the state are in Southampton Tuesday to protest plans to fire six Southampton officers. The officers say they are being laid off because the town is facing a $7 million budget deficit. One of the cops, veteran member of the force Lyle Smith, says he?s being forced to retire just months after being named cop of the year.

More than 100 police officers rallied outside Town Hall in support of the officers. The Southampton PBA says the town?s move is illegal and puts the public at risk. ?[Town] Supervisor [Linda] Kabot is violating the new constitution and the NY retirement and Social Security Law, which states that we don't have to retire after 20 years,? Southampton PBA President Patrick Aube says. Supervisor Kabot says the law on the books states that after officers serve 20 years, they must petition the town to stay on each year. Twenty-seven officers are due to retire, she says, and 21 will stay on.

Kabot says the decision is based on poor attendance records over the last five years.