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General News: Village Nixes Full-Time Police Spot
April 15, 2009
It’s the death of a full-time police department. That’s what Cornwall-on-Hudson police chief Charles Williams is calling the village board’s decision to rely on part-time police officers rather than try to fill a vacancy for a full-time officer.
That charge came after a 30-minute discussion at Monday’s village board meeting about whether Chief Williams could apply for a federal grant that would pay for a full-time officer for three years. The board ultimately voted 3 to 2 against the move.
The three dissenting board members, including Mayor Joseph Gross, cited the fact that once the grant is over, the village is responsible for picking up the cost of the officer. The town of Cornwall last month decided not to take on a COPS officer because it would have to shoulder the additional cost.
Chief Williams pointed out that, unlike the town, the village police department has a full-time position that has been vacant since officer Lou DiMicelli left the force more than two years ago.
Newly-appointed deputy mayor Barbara Gosda reminded Chief Williams that the board agreed that he would cover the full-time slot with part-time officers, including two who were added to the staff earlier this year.
Williams, however, noted that no other village departments were asked to rely on part-timers instead of full-time employees. And, he pointed out that the federal COPS grant provided an opportunity to save money and operate the department as a full-time agency.
“We have an opportunity to get our staff back up, give an officer an opportunity for a full-time career and use our part-time officers as they are designed, for special events and shift coverage,” Williams told the board.
Newly-elected trustee Doug Vatter sided with Chief Williams, arguing it would be a mistake not to apply for an opportunity to get three years of funding. Trustee Mark Edsall agreed with Vatter, but Gosda and trustee Rick Gioia, backed by mayor, said it was not smart during this difficult financial times to commit the village to pay for the officer after the grant ran out.
“When we did the budget we took a hard look at staffing in the police department and we accepted the fact as a board that we were going to go ahead with part-timers based on the fact that we could save on the benefits package,” Barbara Gosda told Chief Williams, “and in three years we will own this officer and there is no way to get out of it.”
She also agreed with the mayor that she would like to see the results of a study of the village police department by the Division of Criminal Justice Services before making any changes.
For Williams, the board's vote was a sign that it is not committed to maintaining a full-time police force in the village. "If the board was committed to having a full time agency," he said, "they would say we will figure out a way to get it done. "
Comments:
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This mayor and village board should spend more time worrying about the safety of their residents than worrying about the necessary costs of providing that protection.
posted by D P on 04/15/09 at 3:30 PM
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I can only commend Trustees Vatter and Edsall for using common sense and putting public safety as their priority. I know both to be careful with spending money but public safety always comes first. I am saddened that our other Trustees did not see fit to take advantage of this opportunity. I am also saddened to see our Police Chief marginalized by a Mayor that doesn't know a lick about policing.
Pat Welch
posted by P W on 04/15/09 at 7:02 PM
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I think the Mayor *does* know a lick about policing and let's be clear that this is >my< opinion - the community relations aspect of a small town police force cannot be underestimated. There are many in this village that feel that the police presence over the last several years was/is overbearing on one portion of the community - teenagers, and was pretty light on the transgressions of those who were somehow connected or more powerful in the community. Routinely ignoring teens' constitutional rights with regard to their person and belongings, their rights to assemble, and at the least, their right to be innocent until proven guilty, a few of our village PD have alienated many community members and have shot holes through the fabric of trust that former Officers cultivated over the years. Maybe if the public were more confident in the professionalism and compassion of our PD it would have backed them up more. I know that I would have, because a police department that has a good rapport with the youth is very powerful in cultivating civility and respect. I know you will disagree with me, Bill, but I really think it takes a village to raise a child. I think Charlie Williams is a good guy but I don't think he has set a tone that is conducive to good community relations.
posted by Kate Benson on 04/15/09 at 9:08 PM
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