Submitted by admin on Thu, 06/12/2008 - 12:43
The Other Side of Dissolution June 2008 Edition
A monthly newsletter written by Johnson City residents opposed to dissolving the Village of Johnson City. Our goal is to help Johnson City residents make a better informed choice, when this goes to vote.
Dissolution Study Committee Meetings: Article #4
Police Services: Local vs. County & State
Written by Julie Deemie
The May 5th Johnson City Dissolution Study Committee meeting brought some much-welcomed news. The Village has received a $193,200 grant from New York State. This grant will help ease the taxpayer’s burden of the dissolution study expenses. There are many costs associated with this study. The consulting firm, which has not yet begun working with the committee, will cost approximately $58,000. There are also village lawyer’s fees, copy fees, and many more, I am sure. Let’s hope the cost of this study can be kept within the bounds of this grant. Otherwise, right out of the gate this study will increase our tax burden, not decrease it.
The May 5th meeting consisted of an overview presentation, given by the Johnson City Police Department. Representing the department was: Chief Doug Potts, Captain Ted Wido and PBA President Paul Burnett.
With the use of a PowerPoint presentation, Chief Potts delivered information on department structure, responsibilities, and services. Chief Potts was very well prepared and patiently answered committee questions, including some interesting committee member ideas on how to cut department costs.
The Johnson City Police Department operates with a total of 45 officers of varying rank. The U.S. average for police coverage is 3 officers per every 1,000 residents served. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Johnson City had 15,535 residents. This figure would indicate that the Johnson City force is right on track with the U.S. average. Johnson City is home to a regional medical center (UHS), the largest indoor shopping mall in the region (Oakdale Mall), and BAE Systems in Westover. Because of the large influx of people to these services and businesses, the daytime population of Johnson City swells to between 40,000 and 50,000 people. Potts noted that the 3-11pm shift is historically their busiest. This tells me that the Johnson City Police force does not appear to be overstaffed.
There are several “personal” touches, which the Johnson City Police Department offers the residents. Residents going out of town for extended periods of time may ask for checks on their residences. Businesses are observed during the night hours for open windows, doors and suspicious activity. They also investigate car, home, and business alarms. The residents of the Village of Johnson City would need to all be much more proactive and observant, without these local patrols who know our area well. The NY State Police Troopers offer no “on foot” patrol or escort services, to communities.
Dense populations, such as ours, present unique situations for law enforcement agencies. The mere presence of patrol vehicles can drastically deter crime. The quick action of on patrol police officers can divert tragedy. Often times the local police can spot fires, or smell its odor, while out on patrol. This extra set of eyes can be very beneficial, especially at night.
The May 19th meeting was perhaps the most intense to date. If ever a dissolution study presentation proved the absurdity of this study, this was the one!
Broome County Sheriff David Harder, accompanied by Under Sheriff, Gary O’Neill, presented an excellent PowerPoint presentation. Although Sheriff Harder literally flew through the data from within this presentation, it should have been strikingly clear, to everyone in the room, that the local police services we currently have, far exceed any services we could ever hope to realize with the Broome County Sheriff’s Department coverage. This revelation resonated a second time, at this meeting, when New York State Police Captain Eric Janis, Zone II Commander, Presented his PowerPoint overview.
The Broome County Sheriff’s Office is a relatively small agency, aside from their correctional division, with a total of 37 highway patrols and 13 detectives serving all outlying towns and villages in Broome County. The Broome County Sheriff’s Department operates with 4-5 deputies per night, for the entire county. It is not their policy to call in extra men when someone is absent; no overtime is used. Harder said it is his “duty to provide services with whatever staff I have”.
The NY State Police Satellite Office in Endwell is staffed by: 11 troopers, 1 sergeant, 2 investigators, and 1 ½ sr. investigators. Captain Janis noted that his department is already operating at full capacity, with not extra availability of manpower.
Both agencies supported no claims that we would receive adequate or even ample police coverage, if Johnson City were to dissolve. Captain Janis emphatically said that he was concerned that the lead time that the State Police would need to acquire and train new officers, would far exceed time allotments of the dissolution process. Sheriff Harder repeatedly stated that he has no authority to demand any expansion of his forces. He can only make recommendations. It would be up to the residents of Johnson City to voice their concerns to their legislators, who in turn would need to approach those in power on a county level, if we were dissatisfied with patrol services or numbers. This is a very tall and uncertain order, with no guarantees for the residents.
Sheriff Harder verified that hiring expenses would be passed on to all taxpayers throughout the county. The same would be true on a state level for all new hires and equipment purchases within the state police unit. A committee member commented that residents in other towns and villages would expect something in return, if their taxes increased. They may not be sympathetic to our need for police protection, post dissolution. As I have noted in earlier newsletters, Village of Johnson City resident’s county taxes would also increase, right along with everyone else’s.
Captain Janis relayed the history of the NY State Police Department, and how it was formed, to provide service to areas without local police protection. When both the sheriff and state police captain were asked, if they currently patrol any urban areas, the answer was no. The closest that they could make a comparison to was Endwell, although they felt that “bedroom community” described that area better. Sheriff Harder explained that although the sheriff’s office does not routinely track response times, ours would definitely increase because they are “not around the corner like your agency is”. Harder confessed “it’s an unknown what’s going to happen here”. He also could not answer a question about how he might replace our current police department, claiming “too many variables.”
I found the following data of interest: During his presentation State Police Captain Janis showed that in 2007 the State Police at Endwell made 85 felony arrests and 264 misdemeanors as compared to 419 felonies and 735 misdemeanor arrests made by Johnson City Police. This is when Captain Janis stated that Johnson City is a “pretty busy place”.
After the dissolution study committee completes its plan to dissolve the Village of Johnson City, it will be up to the voters to decide if they are willing to compromise their personal safety by eliminating our police department.
This month’s quote: “Every society gets the kind of criminal it deserves. What is equally true is that every community gets the kind of law enforcement it insists on.”
We received news that Thomas Augostini’s resignation from the Dissolution Study Committee has been accepted. Evidently Tom felt that, as Councilman for the Town of Union, he would present a conflict of interest by serving on the committee. There was no mention about who would replace him. We all wish Tom well in his new position.
Public attendance at the Dissolution Committee meetings has been increasing.
This is a public forum and I would encourage all interested taxpayers, regardless of your residency location, to attend. The next 2 meetings are planned for June 16th and July 7th at 7pm in the Village of Johnson City Justice Bldg, 2nd floor. I hope you will join us.
For additional information, visit: www.savejc.org.
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