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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReport of the Police Chief for Sept 1974i. Ll POLICE DEPARTMENT VILLAGE OF CAYUGA HEIGHTS TO: Hon. Frederick G. Marcham, Mayor DATE: Oct. 211 1974 Members of the Board of Trustees Village of Cayuga Heights SUBJECT: Report of the Police Chief for September 1974 The Police Department handled 77 complaints and investigated 6 motor vehicle accidents. There were 123 traffic tickets and 19 parking tickets iaFized during the month. There was one felony reported during the month, that being a Grand Larceny. Misdemeanor complaints totaled 16 and the remaining complaints consisted of violations of other state laws, village ordinances, and miscellaneous matters. At the suggestion of the Public Safety Committee, in the future, time permitting, we will attempt to prepare a monthly summary of the complaints we receive so that the Village Board will have a better understanding of the problems we are dealing with. The part -time officers worked a total of 167 hours during the month and the • full -time officers worked 26 hours overtime. At the regular meeting of the Village Board on September 16, 1974, Resolution Number 2327 directed the Police Chief to study and report at what cost and how speed may be controlled on Pleasant Grove Road. Trustee Allee produced a newsclipping concerning the use of a permanent device being used in Arlington, Virginia which features a flashing light and sign which reads "When Flashing You Are Speeding ". He suggested we determine if such a device was legal and feasible. As a result, a letter was sent to the N.Y. State Department of Transportation asking their advice. Their reply dated October 3, 1974 was not fzvorabl.e and a copy of this will be circulated at the regular Village Board meeting for your review. A study of the traffic arrests on Pleasant Grove Road from January 1, 1974 through September 30, 1974 shows that 64 speeding tickets have been issued on that road during this period. It is my opinion that not only speeding arrests but the number of hours a visible patrol car spends on a particular road running radar has a definite effect on speed control. I believe the number of speeding tickets indicated above shows that we have not been neglecting Pleasant Grove Road, however a better job could be done with appropriate personnel available to concentrate our' efforts on this road alone, while not detracting from total Village coverage. Therefore, he Village Board may wish to consider the use of part -time officers to concentrate on this problem. I believe that if a minimum of 2 hours a day were spent running radar on this road at various times, the problem could be largely reduced. This would cost $7.00 per day if part -time officers were used for this purpose. If additional speed control is desired • on other village streets, this could also be accomplished at the cost of $3.50 per hour on those streets. This of course would depend upon the availability of part -time officers and scheduling matters. #I . -2- Merton J. Wallenbeck, a part -time patrolman who has worked for the Cayuga Heights Police Department for over five years, has recently been appointed Ithaca Town Justice effective January 1, 1975. This appointment is for one year to fill the vacancy of Frederick Hartsock who is retiring. Wallenbeck will have to run for election if he so desires in the fall of 1975 for a term starting January 1976. He has served the Police Dept. in a most capable manner during his tenure here and has requested a one year leave of absence from January 1, 1975 thru December 30, 1975 to give him an opportunity to see if he wishes to remain a Town Justice beyond that time and if so if he is elected to the position. There would be no cost to the Village in granting such a leave. Therefore, upon recommendation of the Police Chief and the Public Safety Committee the following resolution is submitted for your consideration: . "VOTED to authorize the Mayor to execute the necessary documents with the County Personnel Department to grant a leave of absence to Patrolman Merton J. Wallenbeck from January 1, 1975 through December 30, 1975." In a discussion with the Public Safety Committee on October 18th, the Police Chief brought to their attention the approaching problem of providing facilities for unleaded gasoline for police vehicles placed in operation after June 1975. It is my understanding that gasoline tanks are in short supply and therefore consideration should be given to this matter as soon as possible. I have been told that there could be a six months or more delay in obtaining and installing a tank for such purposes. Therefore a decision should be made not later than January 1975. As authorized in the 1974 -1975 budget, the sixth full -time police officer will be hired. Following a review of applications and interviews by the Police Chief and the Mayor, the matter has been discussed with the Public Safety Co=Ittee. Upon reccmmendation of the Mayor, the Police Chief and tae Public Safety Committee, the following resolution is submitted for your consideration: "VOTED to authorize the Mayor to appoint Kenneth W. Lansing as a full -time police officer effective November 24, 1974 at the annual salary of $8,138 plus an annual educational incentive of $450 to be pro -rated during each pay period to the end of the Village fiscal year on May 31, 1975." The problem of traffic backing up and by- passing southbound traffic on North Tripha=er Read at both Winthrop Drive and Texas Lane was discussed by the Public Safety Committee. Some solution continues to be necessary for this problem. The shoulders of the road at these points are seriously eroded and in need of repair or improvement. A tree on the northeast corner of Texas Lane and North Triphammer Road also was discussed as a • hazard which obatruets the view of motorists. 0 -3- A memorandum from the Police Chief and the Village Clerk has been submitted with this report explaining the need for a new photo -copy machine. A lengthy study of various machines and costs has been made and we believe our recommendation to be worthy of your consideration. The Sunset Park rehabilitation project is going well and a report will be made to the Village Board at its regular November meeting. By this time the Police Department and youth portions of the project will be completed. We appreciate the cooperation of the Village Board and other persons in the project. This report, although lengthy, is an attempt to shorten the length of the regular Board meetings. Any suggestions the Trustees may have concerning the Police Chief's report or presentations at the regular Board meetings will be appreciated. Respectfully submitted, Harlin R. McEwen Chief of Police • HRM:bp E