I put this on another post.  I still can not get over this.  One, after watching the Town Meeting, Robert Godlewski really needs to listen a little more and not cut off every speaker.  He seems like a brilliant man to be honest, but it makes you seem very arrogant.

Two this change with the local police forces really scares me.  Really scares me.  In an emergency situation, Nisky, Scotia, Rotteradam, and the City of Schenectady will be able to borrow each others police forces.  Spending about 8 years on Chrisler Ave i have learned one thing.  The Schenectady PD is in a constant state of emergency due to under staffing.  When a drunk driver hits a parked car in front of your home, and it takes the police 4 hours to respond even though you are following the guy on foot and calling from cell phones repeatedly, it says a lot (yes this did happen to me).  Robert Godlewski says this will have very little impact on Rotterdam.. I say BS.  It's going to be our officers they are borrowing, not the other way around.  Isn't that what the state police is for.  

I"m scared and something like this happening.  Seems very innocent, but look a little deeper.

Schenectady City Mayor Stratton is still pushing for police consolidation to a county force.  Although some County Legislators
(including Savage) and Town Supervisors have publicly stated their opposition to such a plan, isn't that what we essentially
have, without the cost savings benefits, by granting departments jurisdiction outside their municipalities?

If there is interest and intent in combining ranks in law enforcement agencies, let us realize the cost savings
that should result from consolidation (if it is done right).  Eliminate the duplicity in areas like dispatch, procurement,
booking, IT support, legal, etc.  Negotiate a fair labor contract with the union that will be formed from the consolidated
departments.  And, pass the savings on to the public in the form of property tax relief.

If there is no identified cost savings to be realized, then leave things as they are with the control and decisions at
the local level.

When the police are just minutes away your Smith and Wesson is always with you.

Quoted from 78

Schenectady City Mayor Stratton is still pushing for police consolidation to a county force.  Although some County Legislators
(including Savage) and Town Supervisors have publicly stated their opposition to such a plan, isn't that what we essentially
have, without the cost savings benefits, with allowing departments jurisdiction outside their municipalities?

If there is interest and intent in combining ranks and effort on the law enforcement scene, let us realize the cost savings
that should result from consolidation (if it is done right).  Eliminate the duplicity in areas like dispatch, procurement,
booking, IT support, legal, etc.  Negotiate a fair labor contract with the union that will be formed from the consolidated
departments.  And, pass the savings on to the public in the form of property tax relief.

Just expect your response time to go down.. way down.    Just very alarming the nonchalant way they muttled through the matter, seemed like this might be a bigger issue then even REMS when you think about it.  It's the town of Rotterdam's first line of defense.

Quoted Text

Quoted from Vaedur:
Just expect your response time to go down.. way down.  

I agree Vaedur that this could result IF the guidelines are not established correctly.  There should be some
provision made for a base level of police presence that must be maintained in all municipalities at all times.

I personally am a proponent of local policing.  But, if what you say is true, that has already been compromised
to some degree.

It would be interesting to hear how those who are employed in law enforcement in the county feel about the
current and proposed changes.

Ok....I agree with you vad, but I do believe it goes beyond this. First, we have all shared emergency services for a very long time. eg. police, fire dept, ambulance.  Each municipality would reimburse the other. I think they still do it that way...not sure!

Now here is my take on all of this. This is just the next step of consolidating all police forces in the entire county. Doesn't sound like a bad idea, right? Well here are my concerns.....it will be a much larger 'union' entity. Who will negotiate the union contracts? Who will oversee and be in control of this countywide force? And being that the RPD is the highest paid....would they take a cut in pay (not) or would all of the others get a raise???

Except for picking up more overtime, I can't see the RPD bitting at the bit to take calls on 'the hill'. Or anywhere in the city for that matter. IMHO

Quoted from bumblethru

Doesn't sound like a bad idea, right? Well here are my concerns.....it will be a much larger 'union' entity. Who will negotiate the union contracts? Who will oversee and be in control of this countywide force? And being that the RPD is the highest paid....would they take a cut in pay (not) or would all of the others get a raise???

Sounds like a horrible idea.  We are going to lose officers on patrol if this happens.  Schenectady can't get enough officers to fill shifts, they are going to take them from us.  Rotterdam police officers may even start looking for transfers, i would.  

IMO <--again my opinion, this is because the City is too embarrassed to ask the State Police for help.  That's what they are there for.  It's not our responsibility.

Homeland Security---grant $$---consolidation---blah blah blah blah blah blah.......there IS alot more to it than we are seeing(or is being provided).....automatic scanners on police cars, bar codes,
cell phone trackers, street cameras, Real ID......

come on folks we get moved about so easily with money talk and 'fear' talk.......show me your papers.....baaaaaaaaaaa

oh, BTW did everyone know the calorie count at the last restaurant/fast food place you ate at?????  Ms.Savage must be too lazy to cook and thinks the government should assume the responsibility
of watching what we eat because we are too lazy too cook too.......are we going to consolidate the food police with our national health 'care' too????? show me your BMI......

Quoted from Vaedur

/thanks clubhouse.  I am going to DVR it so i can have a few beers and have some entertainment Saturday night!  




Vaedur,
So did you need more than a few beers to get thru the replay of the meeting?  Pretty bad, eh?   I hope that the residents who voted for the current administration are watching closely.

Quoted from clubhouse

Quoted from Vaedur

/thanks clubhouse.  I am going to DVR it so i can have a few beers and have some entertainment Saturday night!  




Vaedur,
So did you need more than a few beers to get thru the replay of the meeting?  Pretty bad, eh?   I hope that the residents who voted for the current administration are watching closely.

Nah i was on daddy duty, so daughter had a bottle of milk, and dad had a diet pepsi.  She has been napping horribly lately, but the meeting got her to nap for 2 hours, lol.  Was "interesting" to say the least.  I'm now a Kevin March mark.

What's a "Kevin March mark?"

Ah sorry  a Mark  means "A Fan of"