Police wanted, but not needed

MILLBROOK — Mayor Laura Hurley answered a question that has always caused debate among residents in the Village of Millbrook at the Tuesday, Oct. 25, Village Board meeting. The question was, “Does the village need to have a police department?” Some residents don’t think there is a need for the police department because the state police are located so nearby (Troop K is just around the corner on Route 44). Hurley said that there are a lot of questions on whether things are done in the village because historically it has always been done that way or if it’s that way because it’s based on need. Hurley did her own research in the law books to find out whether the village was required to a police department and after having trouble finding an answer she passed the question on to Village Attorney Rebecca Valk.“The opinion of our attorney is that ‘No we don’t have to have a police department’,” said Hurley. “That doesn’t mean that we don’t have to have a police department. But it was always the question of if you get rid of your police department you have to contract with the sheriff’s office or with the state police, and that is not the case. The law almost works the opposite in providing the ability to have a police department. This is just to go on file once and for all that question is answered under that opinion.”The mayor said that although the village doesn’t have to have a police department, the village relies heavily on the service from the police for handling a variety of different issues.“We respond to a numerous amount of domestic calls within the village,” said Hurley. “The youth in village in the afternoons while they are not necessarily committing crimes it is a very serious issue for us in making sure there aren’t fights breaking out and these types of incidents. The Stewart’s parking lot has become a much safer and calmer place then it used to be, I used to see drug dealing from my office window a few years but that’s been cleaned up. So there are those types of things and we respond to a tremendous amount of car accidents from the village and town.”The village police must respond to calls in the town of Washington if they are the closest car and hold down the scene until another agency that has jurisdiction arrives. Hurley said that there is discussion among the village and town of expanding the village police and allowing the town to acquire their services. That discussion will continue between both municipalities on how to best save money by working together. In the meantime Hurley is very pleased with the coverage the village receives from the police department.“I think overall we really looked long and hard at it and we are getting a great value for the small amount we are investing in the police force; that’s why I have felt so strongly about it.”

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