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| May 05, 2024 |
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General News: Village to Study Police Consolidation
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| Police Chief Charles Williams. |
May 20, 2008
Village board members want to study the feasibility of consolidating the village police department with the town’s department although they are reluctant to give up control of the police services the village gets with its own force.
At Monday evening’s board meeting, the board members agreed to have the department of criminal justice conduct a consolidation study to find out what efficiencies could be gained in the move.
The last study was done in 1984 and police chief Charles Williams says the results showed that it would actually cost more to put the two departments together. Williams also pointed out that the village police provide a variety of special detail services, from the bandstand concerts on Tuesday evenings to Riverfest, that would be an additional expense in a consolidated force.
Trustee Rick Gioia said while he favors looking at the consolidation, he likes that the village has control of the department, “I don’t want us to get short shrift and have to go begging for services,” Gioia noted.
The discussion of consolidation soon led two other trustees, William Fogarty and Barbara Gosda, to criticize the village police for not having a visible enough public presence.
Chief Williams told the board that he strongly disagreed with that observation and listed all the public activities and official duty functions where he meets people. He also noted that, conversely, other residents have criticized the recent increase of police patrols on the streets, questioning whether he was turning the village into a police state.
Gosda emphasized the importance of maintaining the village's "quality of life" and called for the police to be even more pro-active in calming traffic and enforcing pedestrian safety. “There are times I do not feel safe crossing our streets,” she told Williams.
Williams defended his department’s record, noting that the number of traffic tickets handed out last year doubled from the previous year. “We make sure people are safe everyday,” Williams said.
Mayor Joe Gross told the meeting that he, too, had heard complaints from the public about the lack of enforcement of laws on the books in the village. Williams said that for every complaint, there were hundreds more people who are satisfied.
“We’re probably the safest village in Orange county when it comes to crime, accidents, and pedestrians struck,” Williams told the board.
Trustee Mark Edsall kept his focus on the issue of the consolidation of the two police forces. “I wouldn’t want to spend the same amount of money or more and get less service,” he said.
Comments:
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we should tip toe through this as our police force is one of the most important pieces of village life we should not trade it in as if we do we cant turn back. Yes, the force needs tweaking as in pedestrian safety and there are several areas in the village that road safety laws may need to be looked at and the Chief should start recommending these areas for change.
posted by jcbike1 on 05/20/08 at 4:31 PM
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It appears that politicians are overlooking the obvious. In reality the Village itself is a total redundancy. If you want to start consolidating things ? just cut to the chase and abolish the Village of Cornwall on the Hudson as a whole. The Village taxpayers will thank you being that they currently pay higher taxes than the Town.
posted by Mike Farbent on 05/21/08 at 8:49 AM
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There are a number of things that should be considered regarding the village. Consolidation of the police force is only one of them. Sanitiation along with other departments should be reviewed as well. We as residents should even entertain the idea of privatizing the Water system. A number of municipalities across the country have done so and have seen considerable savings. Or we could continue on with current status qou with the prospect of ever increasing taxes. I guess it all depends on what your priorities and concerns are and what you are willing to pay for it.
posted by [email protected] on 05/21/08 at 4:53 PM
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Go ask the other villages how they feel now that they have consolidated. They pay just as much in taxes and they absolutely don't get the same service. Wait until someone calls for help and they have to wait 10 minutes because the officer is all the way in Salisbury Mills!
posted by DP on 05/22/08 at 10:36 AM
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