I will agree that when government is involved it will cost substantially more and be substantially less efficient. I have a couple of friends that have relatives in Glendale and from what they say running this facility on a shoestring is not in the best interest of our seniors. it's my understanding that the employees work and try very hard, but they can only do so much.
I agree with Fred's comments about the road patrol and with Carolina for not wanting to fund the patrol. What started out as a few deputies patroling the rural part of the county for the folks without a police department is now a 1.5 million dollar a year countywide roving patrol that 99% of the time is writing tickets for traffic violations. Yes, I am sure that the Sheriff could put some report out about how many "calls" his deputies have but from what I know- he counts a traffic stop as a call and if his dog is with him- that is 2 calls.
I also live on a major road in Princetown and have almost never seen a deputy in Princetown or Duanesburg. A good friend of mine is a trooper in Princetown and laughs at the idea that the Sheriff was able to convince the legislators that he NEEDED 9 deputies and as many canines. After all, there are 26 troopers in Princetown. He says that their main zone is Princetown and Duanesburg. I guess the area use to be bigger and included more of the Thruway but a few years ago- it changed to just Princetown and Duanesburg.
If you think about it, we actually have more police per thousand residents than anyone in the county and we have a lot less crime. I personally don't mind paying a little more for more police protection, but we dont get any more. I think the troopers do a great job and to pay sheriffs deputies 1.5 million dollars to write tickets is redundant and such a waste of our money.
Welcome, JNotar, and we look forward to hearing more about how you feel things are going. There are many things in the pipes that include both Rotterdam and Princetown together...and it's not too often we get input from Princetown.
We have a couple friends on here from D'Burg, but we look forward to any view that you have to bring to the table from a P'Town resident.
Again, welcome, and we look forward to hearing your feelings.
Proud Rotterdam Resident Proud Patriot Proud Conservative Republican Proud Christian
Welcome jnotar to the "family". I look foward to hearing your views.
I think that it is important that the record be set straight.
I have spoken to Carolina and Rene Merrihew (Duanesburg Supervisor) regarding Carolina's proposal. If I understand it correctly, Carolina did not propose the elimination of the Sheriff road patrol, but, rather suggested scaling it back to its original level (that has grown over time).
The justification is that the Sheriff currently patrols much of the town of Rotterdam where there exists a dedicated police presence (Rotterdam Police force). Carolina suggested eliminating the overlap in jurisdiction. This would result in the Sheriff road patrol continuing to patrol the towns of Princetown and Duanesburg. With Carolina's approach, the cost of the road patrol to the county would be decreased with the result decreased county spending. Her proposal could also lessen the potential impact of the state mandate regarding the hiring of additional guards at the county jail.
Legislator Lazzari is working to reduce county government spending. She is not, however, advocating the elimination of police presence that could jeopardize public safety.
Although many have stated that they don't frequently see the Sheriff driving on their rural roads, I believe that it is important that they be within a reasonable proximity of the rural towns should their assistance be required in an emergency.
Rene, if you read this, please correct me if the explanation that I provided is inaccurate.
"If we can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them, they must become happy."
I NEVER knew the purpose or the role of the Sheriff's dept. I even have a relative that worked for the sheriff's dept and he transported prisoners from one location to another. And that they 'watch' the prisoners. I never quite new why we needed them for 'road patrol'. Perhaps they may have been of service on occassions...HOWEVER...I believe that in Duanesburg and Princetown, the state police would be sufficient. They are 'right there'. And is there really a need for a 'road patrol? And would safety be compromised if the sheriff's dept were no longer servicing Duanesburg and Princetown?
historically the sheriffs and deputies were for the jails and hold the keys to the lockups......Deadwood.......I guess we could say that the police departments in towns/cities are a paramilitary force more like enforcers of a certain 'code of conduct' for society(Minority Report).....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
As you can imagine, I was pretty upset when I heard about the Sheriff road patrol comments purported to have been made by Carolina. I called her immediately to find out what was going on and what she said. First though, the patrol was originally implemented to provide coverage to the areas in the county that did not have any police force, primarily Duanesburg and Princetown. It started with three deputies. Apparently the department has enlarged the patrol area as well as the number of deputies. They patrol not only D'burg and P'town but other towns in the county as well. The kicker is the other towns already have a police force. To have the Sheriff's road patrol is redundant, costly, and unnecessary for those towns. What Carolina said during a budget meeting was why not reduce the Sheriffs patrol in those areas that already have a police presence and return the patrol back to its original intent. Why pay the salaries, benefits, etc. to have a road patrol in the city of Schenectady or the town of Glenville when they pay their own force? Return the men/women on those patrols to the county jail as employees there Carolina is well aware of how important the road patrol is to us and I suspected it was just political crap. I was right.
I posted the above quote shortly after I heard about the comments Carolina made. If you want to see the accompanying posts it is located on this thread, dated October 28 #292
Hi jnotar, welcome. Brad, your assessment is fair except for the fact that the Sheriff's deputies also patrol parts of the city of Schenectady and all the towns. I would agree that the road patrol is a duplication of services in towns that provide police protection. I frequently travel the roads of D'burg late at night after meetings and will see the road patrol. One night after a meeting I left Town Hall around 10:30 I was getting into my car and a Sheriffs deputy pulled in to see if everything was ok. As I have posted previously, we have had some incidents in the past with irate residents where we had to concern ourselves with safety and it was nice to know they were there. The state troopers are also visible in town. If we have an emergency and dial 911 it goes to the trooper barracks, and they respond, not the sheriff. Remember we encompass 72 square miles of dark desolate roads, I feel there is a need for both organizations.
jnotar, I would agree that the road patrol has appeared to take on a life of its own and grown into something other than the original intent. As you stated it was created to provide coverage to the rural areas of the county. I also agree the State Troopers do a great job and have heard the same figure of 26 troopers at the P'town barracks. If their area is P'town and D'burg where are they all. While I see them frequently, I don't see THAT many. Seems possible that they are a tad overstaffed for two rural towns.
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