The chief of Port Jefferson’s code enforcement division and at least five other officers have walked off the job in the past two weeks, Mayor Lauren Sheprow said, after officials late last month banned village employees from carrying guns of fire to duty.

Chief Andrew Owen and Deputy Chief Charles Gennaro were among six code enforcement officers — about 15 percent of the force — who resigned or retired in apparent protest of the policy, which was approved by 5- 0 by the village council in a hastily convened event on October 25. meet.

Officials said the move was prompted by the Sept. 27 discovery by a code officer unattended weapon in a Town Hall toilet.

Port Jefferson officials met Friday morning with officials from CSEA Local 1000, which represents village employees, to discuss the issue. Sheprow said the parties agreed to meet again next Friday.

Sheprow, in an interview Thursday, said village residents are “100 percent” safe despite the resignations, adding that Suffolk County police conduct regular village patrols.

Code enforcement officers issue parking tickets and patrol parks and other public facilities, but are not empowered to make arrests, she said, adding that officers are trained to report crimes to Suffolk police.

“It is not our intention to make our code enforcement officers feel like persona non grata,” Sheprow said. “We are not asking for anyone’s resignation. We are interested in seeing this agency continue in village code enforcement.”

Port Jefferson does not issue service weapons to code officers, Sheprow previously said, adding that the gun found in the bathroom was the unnamed officer’s personal property.

She said the village will search for a new chief and hire officers to replace those who resigned.

Code enforcement officers are paid $18 to $22 an hour, Sheprow said. As part-time employees, they do not receive health care benefits, she added.

Sheprow said Owen, a former NYPD officer appointed to the position two years ago, was paid $35,000 annually.

Attempts to reach Owen were unsuccessful.

Gennaro said Thursday that he “retired, not resigned” and referred additional questions to Local 1000 President Dan O’Connell.

O’Connell, a sergeant in the code enforcement division, declined to comment Friday.

Some residents and those who work in the village told Newsday they feel less safe with unarmed code officers. Some said officers are often the first on the scene when incidents occur.

“They (code officers) can break up fights or whatever until the Suffolk County police arrive,” said Julie Vitrano, 43, a real estate agent who works in the village. “It’s not so sure anymore.”

Suffolk police responded to 80 reported crimes in Port Jefferson last year, including 66 burglaries, five motor vehicle thefts, three aggravated assaults, three burglaries, two robberies and one rape, according to statistics posted on the department’s website. police.

Through Nov. 2, Suffolk police reported 34 reports of crimes in Port Jefferson, including 25 thefts, five assaults, three carjackings and one burglary, the department said in an email.

Sheprow said the firearms were banned because of liability issues, adding that liability insurance would cost $300 per officer.

“It was concerning to me the whole time and even before I ran,” said Sheprow, who took office last year. “We felt it was an important issue to consider and investigate.”

Village officials were also concerned about a costly lawsuit if someone was injured by an unattended gun, she said. “Everything looked like a big liability,” she added.

Attorney General Letitia James’ office says government buildings are considered “sensitive places” where guns are not allowed.

Serge Colas, 39, of Brentwood, a security guard at the Frigates ice cream shop, said the village is “drastically different” from a year ago, citing late-night fights and public drunkenness.

“Disarming everyone is not going to make things any easier,” he said. “I don’t walk around in fear. But you can see that the regulars…are walking on eggshells.”

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after previously covering Smithtown, Suffolk County courthouses and numerous spot news stories and features during his 20+ year career at Newsday.