I really can't believe that you said that, That is not a good attitude to have, I will give you an example, when the rotterdam girls softball league got vandelised with spray paint, I was the first one to call and volunteer my service to paint it. I for one am not a Rotterdam resident, I live in schenectady and I am concenred for all county matters if it involves the hard working, local honest citizen Now would you want somebody to help you if you needed it?
Gee Mr. Clean, thank you for volunteering your time with Rotterdamn's girls softball league. But do you honestly think that the RPD would be qualified to handle the crime in Schenectady? Hardly. You are mixing apples and oranges here.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Public airing of the video(s) captured by the cameras mounted in the police vehicles would provide insight to the behaviors of both the police and the accused. Of course, as typically occurs when video is made public, the party whose behavior appears to be inappropriate will claim that there is footage that was not aired that exonerates them.
Without additional information, I must, out of respect for our law enforcement officers, give the benefit of doubt to the Schenectady Police officers. Randolph has a lengthy criminal record and has served time in prison. Despite the misdeeds of some of those on the Schenectady PD, there are many officers who risk their lives to protect and serve honorably.
Gee Mr. Clean, thank you for volunteering your time with Rotterdamn's girls softball league. But do you honestly think that the RPD would be qualified to handle the crime in Schenectady? Hardly. You are mixing apples and oranges here.
So your saying rotterdams police force is not qualified? I am not mixing anything it's the princaple of the fact of helping out As I did with an example but somehow you over looked an example I was not compareing apples to oranges! unfortunatly I feel that people are still in the state of mind them against us instead of working together! If rotterdam ever needed any help with fire or police back up it's ok to say no because schenectady has there own problems and you would be one of the people that would critsize schenectady for not helping out? I would also like to say I come on this board daily to read to see what is going. Also I was saying something to kevin, As he steamlines onto Schenectady rants and raves and his oppinions might be part of a sloution but when he steamslins back to rotterdam info and posts that, it's a problem! maybe he should post his remark on there? Be a part of the solution or part of the problem? You can't play both sides of the fence?
Don't misunderstand what I'm saying here. A helping hand in certain situations are fine. And no I don't think the Rotterdam cops or any other 'town' cop can handle the crime that there is in Schenectady day in and day out. They are not presently trained or acclimated for it.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Don't misunderstand what I'm saying here. A helping hand in certain situations are fine. And no I don't think the Rotterdam cops or any other 'town' cop can handle the crime that there is in Schenectady day in and day out. They are not presently trained or acclimated for it.
I do understand to a point but if your saying rotterdam police can't handle crime than as a rotterdam resident I would be concerned, However I was directing a question to Kevin as he has not responded, Don't forget that when rotterdam police were called to rollerama they called schenectady police for back up!! And don't give any excuse as to the kids were all from Schenectady!!!
Just remember, this is Schenectady, not Rotterdam. We'll be fine as long as ours on't call in sick or get called to the city for backup.
I really can't believe that you said that, That is not a good attitude to have, I will give you an example, when the rotterdam girls softball league got vandelised with spray paint, I was the first one to call and volunteer my service to paint it. I for one am not a Rotterdam resident, I live in schenectady and I am concenred for all county matters if it involves the hard working, local honest citizen Now would you want somebody to help you if you needed it?
I agree, and would appreciate the help when needed. I notice when I posted this and have not really had a chance to check back on this to this point. I think I was very tired when I actually posted that response. I had just finished viewing many things out on the Schenectady board itself when I posted that.
First of all, I almost grew up over at the Girls Softball field, and while I haven't been over there for years, I would like to say how much I appreciate you stepping up and helping out, even though you aren't a resident of the town.
I too am concerned about issues throughout the entire county. All I guess I was saying is that it is fine for us (the Rotterdam police) to help out the Schenectady police if there are issues, but if it is an on-going issue, as it has been for years, then there has to be some end put to it. I guess I just expect Schenectady to clean up its mess.
Many municipalities have a mutual aid type of thing, such as the issue that you are speaking about now with Rollarama. The only thing I am saying is that if one doesn't take account for what they are responsible for long enough, it's going to cost not only them, but others also. Remember backa while ago when Schenectady called in the State Police to help for a while.
And yes, to some extent, there ARE differences in what is handled on a town / city level. Most of the things are the same, but in the town, you're usually not in the same types of neighborhoods that you are in the city, and that's just the facts, they're not the same.
I believe both are there and willing to help each other, just that they're also not bringing the exact same thing to help, it varies, as it does in the world person to person. There's just certain things that one would deal with daily that the other may not see for weeks/months/years.
And I apologize for being asleep at the keyboard last night.
Kevin, Thank you and I agree with you, other police forces helping out is only a band aid effect and not good in the long run, I also agree that you can't compare Rotterdam to Schenectady due to the fact 56% of Schenectady's population is tenants, While I do not know the exact % of Rotterdam I am assuming the single resident home owner/occupied is far greater! It's very frustrating with the situation of the police force facing with many obstacles, with crime rate going up and the force is down, bulding falling. Schenectady is working in a crises mode! something has got to brake. It took years to get like this and it's not going to clean itself up over night. This is a priority issue that must be addressed ASAP!
On the Schenectady board Host pc is gathering concerned citizens to start a web site takeschenectady back. It just might be part of a solution. Once again thank you for your response.
Don't forget that when rotterdam police were called to rollerama they called schenectady police for back up!!
My point exactly!
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Kevin, Thank you and I agree with you, other police forces helping out is only a band aid effect and not good in the long run, I also agree that you can't compare Rotterdam to Schenectady due to the fact 56% of Schenectady's population is tenants, While I do not know the exact % of Rotterdam I am assuming the single resident home owner/occupied is far greater! It's very frustrating with the situation of the police force facing with many obstacles, with crime rate going up and the force is down, bulding falling. Schenectady is working in a crises mode! something has got to brake. It took years to get like this and it's not going to clean itself up over night. This is a priority issue that must be addressed ASAP!
On the Schenectady board Host pc is gathering concerned citizens to start a web site takeschenectady back. It just might be part of a solution. Once again thank you for your response.
Yes, I've added my suggestion for that site, and I'm more than willing to respond to any questions that anyone has regarding any of my posts. Even if you want to speak to me re: these. Sometimes my posts can be taken the wrong way and I have no problem trying to explain, but you must know that I'm not the most eloquent speaker / explainer.
I think we need to get our coffee club going again, and I would invite you, Mr. Clean, to join us, or if you want to just sit down for a 1 on 1, I would be MORE than happy to at some time. It's good for us to get to know the people we're working along with to make the community a better place.
Your point being what? you have security gaurds working for the rotterdam police department tell that to the rotterdam police that they are not qualified to handle their job! Anyway it was how kevin originally presented his original oppinion!
Mr. Clean, we are actually on the same page here. The landscape of crime is increasing and changing. We have the SPD in crisis mode and town police departments, I feel, are not equipped to handle the influx. There needs to be some changes in law enforcement in all cities and townships. The scum is increasing and spreading and we need better law enforcement. I understand that this will take time, but something has got to be done. And we can't continue to have corrupt police officers or officers who call in sick on crucial shifts or police officers who are rapping the taxpayers with unrealistic benefits.
Yes I also heard about the 'take schdy back' thing by citizens. And although I think it is a great idea,in theory, I am not so sure about having web cams everywhere. It is just another notch in 'big brother's' belt. My thought....private citizens should not be 'web camming' other private citizens.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
You seem to spend a lot of time bashing the police, especially Rotterdam police officers. You say that they are less trained than other officers and ill-equipped to handle the influx. What are you in favor of- a county-wide police department? And, what documentation do you have that they receive less training than others? You say that officers get unrealistic benefits. Are you referring to the 29,000 salary that Schenectady police start at? Do you think if we reduced their pay we would attract better cops???????? Troopers start at 60K. Do you think that the most qualified would apply there or SPD?
Seems to me that you are either a Rotterdam politician who the police dont support because you have your own agenda or you are a party boss that got your police commission shoved up your @.......... when you politicized the Rotterdam cops.
for one who is "big brother " this is a community effort that involves residents, When a web cam is in a public area there is no federal law regarding such use, when you go to the store, gas station, malls, and the list goes on, look up and smile your on candid camera! no body said anything about having a web cam pointed in your window. and I can see you are not the type of person that does not likes any changes or be a part of the solution just a problem. ONLY positive attitudes invited no negative people!! And what about the officers that are honest, or perhaps the ones that got suspended that might be inocent? overtime is used for those who call out sick or when thre force is down, as it stands The Schenectady Police Department needs to get the number of personnel increased. There are 17 vacancies in the 150 person department, handling 90,000 calls per year. Currently, they need to prioritize calls. They need to improve response time for calls. 9 new recruits will begin with the city in January and another new group will begin training then. It takes 8 months of training before new officers can begin. Once personnel levels are increased (probably by the Spring), the officers will begin walking (community policing) within the areas they work. This will help people feel comfortable giving needed information to the officers (about crimes committed) and will deter others. Committees are working on how to get guns off the street. Besides being 17 officers down they have five officers on suspention! What can you do as a citizen to be part of the solution to help reduce crime! that's why we are oranizing takeschenectady back wesite!
At the risk of entering into an area of crossfire, I will offer my $0.02.
Quoted Text
Quoted from jnotar: ... What are you in favor of- a county-wide police department? ...
I am against consolidation of the municipal police departments for the following reasons:
As a Conservative, I believe that local control is more effective at addressing the individual needs of communities than control at higher levels of government.
Town and City police forces are more likely to hire local residents who know the communities and their residents.
The formation of a county wide police department will undoubtedly result in the creation of one or more high paying political patronage positions (e.g., Public Safety Commissioner) that will have little relevance in day to day operations of the department and that will be used as a means of political control and influence by whichever party controls county government.
The assignment of officers to patrol the various local municipalities will most certainly result in the majority of the police presence being placed in the City of Schenectady and little to no presence in the surrounding townships despite the costs of the department being shared by ALL county residents.
Consolidation of services may make sense in some cases. I recall that there has been some consideration of consolidating the police departments of the Town of Glenville and the Village of Scotia. This merger may have merits related to cost savings. Further, the Village of Scotia is located within the Town of Glenville. The decision should rest with the residents of the Town of Glenville (including the Village of Scotia).
So, I oppose the formation of a county wide police department. Unfortunately, I sense that it may already by in planning stages by the Democratic party controlled county legislature. I'm not sure of how such a plan may impact the Schenectady Sheriff's Department or the jurisdiction of the New York State Troopers. I assume that the Sheriff's Department would be eliminated and/or merged into the county force as the Sheriff's Department is funded at the county level.
Be careful of what you ask for ... you just may get it!
Ok, it just so happens that I have a "Buy 1, Get 1 Free" sale on my forum posts today. To qualify my comments, I am not a law enforcement officer and have never played one on TV.
I believe that a comprehensive review of the Schenectady Police Department needs to be performed to determine the appropriate staffing levels. If the deparment is understaffed, additional police officers should be hired. The starting salaries must be established to reflect those offered by departments in surrounding communities. Otherwise, the qualified law enforcement officers will opt to work for other municipalities. It is my feeling that the officers on the Schenectady police force should be offered a higher salary than those in the townships to account for the increased number of calls to which they respond and the increased threat of danger to be encountered in the areas of their jurisdiction.
With the hiring of additional officers, the amount of comp time and overtime pay can be significantly reduced. Officers should be required to work a predefined minimum number of hours per week. If they do not, they should be requried to charge their absence to either vacation time, sick time, or comp time (for those who have already accrued).
The City and the police union need to negotiate in good faith with each respecting one another's needs. Both sides stand to gain from thoughtful negotiation. I suggest that the unlimited sick time provision of the contract needs to be rescinded. In its place, there should be provision for a maximum number of sick days (e.g., 10 days) to be paid at full salary and a long term disability provision whereby those who are out for longer than the 10 days will be paid a percentage (e.g., 60%) of their salary up to a predefined limited duration. The disability must be verifiable by a licensed physician. Workmans' Comp must also be available for those who are injured in the line of duty. These are all benefits that are commonly offered by (large) private employers.
Our law enforcement officers place their lives and safety on the line in their service to protect the communities in which they serve. The police officers should be treated fairly and with respect. In return, the residents of the municipalities should demand accountability, integrity, and professionalism. We need an increased presence and visibility of law enforcement in many areas of the City of Schenectady (including foot patrols in the downtown State Street area) if we are to limit criminal activity and enforce the rule of law. It is the government's primary function to provide for the public safety.
Logged
To qualify my comments, I am not a law enforcement officer and have never played one on TV.
