This is why we must support a full time police department. As economic times worsen crimes rise. The next thing everyone will be answering their doorbells with a 12 gauge in their arms. Support our Police and show up for tonights meeting in the Village.

This incident occurred in the town of Cornwall, even though the town DOES have a full-time police department. In addition, one home invasion does not necessarily presage the beginnings of a crime problem. There may be reasons to maintain full-time police officers in COH, but this isn't one of them.

Carlotta,

Yes your statement is true. But with this happening so close it doesn't make the Villagers feel safer losing our last two full time PoliceOfficers.

The Town has a quality Police Department and I understand crime can happen anywhere but living in the Village we have peace of mind knowing we have some sense of continuity within our Police Department with our 2 full time Police Officers.

When economic times turn worse unfortunately crime does go up. This is not the time to fire our only 2 full timers. I'm certain the town wouldn't want to go to part timers. Correct?

I would have no problem with answering the door holding a 12 gauge.

Feeling safe is not the same as being safe. If residents ARE safe with part-time officers, why pay for full-time officers just so people can FEEL safe? If the town police department felt that they could provide the same service with part-time officers, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

Carlotta,

That is the crux of the matter. We will NOT be as safe. Do you really believe you would be as safe with a part time department in the town?
Pat

Kate,

That is you. I have a winchester 12 gauge 18" barrel defender with 18 buckshot. You can't miss within 30 yards.

But what about the elderly in our village? Do you expect them to answer their doors loaded for bear? I know you do not like the full time police in our village. You have made that a point clear many, many times. That's you and a few others. I support our full time officers. I think they handled you kids quite well when many other Police Departments would have made sure they had permanent records. You should be thankful for them.

Pat Welch

Carlotta,

Why not ask Supervisor Quigley to save the Town money and YOU go to a part time Department if it will save you money?

>>>If the town police department felt that they could provide the same service with part-time officers, I wouldn't have a problem with it.<<<

Carlotta,

They CAN provide the same service with part time officers. I would suggest you go to your next town meeting and ask that they find out the cost savings and go for it. You will not have to pay for health benefits, pensions, etc, etc. Go for it Carlotta. What good for the Goose must be good for the Gander.

Pat Welch

Why on earth would I go to Supervisor Quigley with such a request? I'm not qualified to determine whether or not the town (or the village) could go to a part-time department and maintain safety; I'll leave that up to the experts--the police. It's not a matter of what I believe. You'll notice that I wrote "IF the town police department felt that they could provide the same service." You'll also notice that I've made no comment on my personal opinion on the COH situation either. I got into this conversation simply to point out that the home invasion in Cornwall has nothing to do with full-time versus part-time policing in COH. If we're going to discuss something, can't we skip the "slippery slope" fallacy and personal opinions and stick to facts and data?

So, Pat, are you suggesting that local governments should use taxpayer dollars to pay for unnecessary employees just because those employees are nice guys? I don't understand your point.

Carlotta,

If part time Police Officers are cheaper for the Village they must be even cheaper for the Town. Seems to me it's a no brainer since the Town has so many more Police Officers.

>>>If the town police department felt that they could provide the same service with part-time officers, I wouldn't have a problem with it.<<<

They most certainly can save the Town a LOT OF MONEY by going part time. The ENTIRE point is the quality of service. The Village of COH does NOT need a part time Police "Chief" to tell us that we are better off with a part time department. The Town can save even more money then the Village going to a part time Police Department. Do YOU think that is prudent? Don't pass the buck, give me YOUR opinion.

Well the answer is an emphatic NO. The town would save a bundle of money but lose THEIR SAFETY NET just as the the Village would lose theirs. I don't care about nice guys. I care about SAFETY. Think about it.

Pat Welch

My opinion is worthless. I know nothing about local crime statistics, policing policies, costs of maintaining employees, workplace moral, and so on.

An opinion is no basis for an argument, no matter how emphatically that opinion is stated in capital letters. Let's hear some factual evidence that part-time policing is imprudent. Valid evidence would be, for example, before-and-after crime statistics for municipalities of similar size and demographic makeup, data indicating that quality of service goes down when employees are switched to part-time. That's the stuff of a valid argument.

Well Carlotta,

The people in the village have received nothing regarding
before-and-after crime statistics for municipalities of similar size and demographic makeup, data indicating that quality of service goes down when employees are switched to part-time. So we have NO VALID ARGUMENT here in the village to go to a complete part time police force. Nothing - Nada -Zilch.

The current Mayor, in many, many, peoples opinion forced out our full time Police Chief and it had NOTHING to do with money. You must live here to understand what is going on. All I can say is come March things will change with new elections and you can take that to the Bank.

Perhaps that is why there were Village members standing outside Village Hall who couldn't even get in last nights meeting. Also kudo's to our great Town Police Force for supporting what is right.

Pat Welch

OK, so the mayor and the board should present some evidence FOR the safety of part-time policing, if they have any. (Would you be persuaded by such evidence?) However, their failure to present such evidence doesn't validate an opinion-based argument AGAINST part-time policing. Neither do ad populum arguments.

Calotta,

I don't need to convince YOU of anything. YOU don't live in the Village, I DO. I am retired and believe I have a better pulse on how the Village feels then you. Convince YOU? Why waste my time as you're not even a Village resident. Have a good New Year.

Pat Welch

Pat,I never had a problem with "the full time police in the village", only the one that lost track of our 4th amendment rights and forgot that the teens are also citzens with rights and that they also deserve to be treated like HUMAN BEINGS regardless of their age/lifestyle/preferred sport. For years we had many excellent, efficient, and approachable officers on the force and they were always a pleasure to work with. I raised my kids to respect the police and for years they did, until one individual undermined that lesson with his actions and pervasive negative attitude. As far as downsizing the force for economic reasons, I have often wondered why we have duplicate services in the town and village, I always thought it was because we had our own zip code....

If your finger on the village pulse tells you that all feel as you do, then there is no need for a persuasive fact-based argument. Opinion-based arguments always work well when one is preaching to the converted.

I know a lot of people in the village. I haven't met a one who does not support keeping our remaining two full time Police Officers. Even Jill Nye a part time Officer and Village resident is in support of keeping our full time Officers. Since this can't legally go to a referendum it remains a board decision. As was stated by many at the Village Meeting anyone who votes against keeping our two Full Time Officers we will vote out of office. Our opinions will speak at the polls come March. We don't need to waste any more money on lawyers fees to decide for us, the villagers what we want. Opinions do count as we will see come March.

Yes, opinions do of course count when it comes to voting. However, opinions can neither prove nor disprove the safety of part-time policing. Voting results may prove that villagers FEEL safer with full-time police, but those results cannot either prove or disprove that villagers ARE safer.