The Village of Schoharie has become the first in Schoharie County to OK its state-mandated policing plan.
A review of the Police Department confirmed the PD’s own statistics of no citizen complaints—in 2020 or in fact, ever.
In fact, said Colleen Quirion, who led the review, she only heard positive things about the part-time PD; a “wonderful, handwritten letter from Parsonage Pines” the Citizens Advisory Board received “was confirmation of that as well,” Ms. Quirion, pastor at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church of Schoharie, said.
“I heard nothing negative at all. Just positive things,” she said, after she reached out to downtown businesses, group homes, local clergy, and others just to make sure she wasn’t missing something.
Still, good can always become even better, and with that as a goal, the policing plan outlines five “enhancements.”
• The village’s new Police Department Policy Manual, developed through Lexipol with the help of Officer-in-Charge Brian Rossi, will be implemented and Officer Rossi will update the Village Board on it annually.
• The PD will continue to look for training opportunities to meet the 21 hours of in-service training mandated annually.
• Officers will continue to “divert” individuals out of the criminal justice system when appropriate through efforts like LEAD.
In fact, after a presentation on LEAD by Sheriff’s Investigator Bruce Baker, who’s part of the policing review at the county level, the village voted to formally become a partner.
LEAD—Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion--gives officers the option of diverting low-level non-violent offenders to things like mental health or job training or even food banks or housing instead of arresting them.
In an updated Sheriff’s Office strategy, deputies can also divert people before they commit a crime.
• Officers will look for ways to further enhance community engagement and the Citizens Advisory Board suggests sending out an annual survey to “assess the condition of the relationship between the department and the community.”
“Our officers are known as friendly advocates and will continue to make themselves available for such events [Memorial Day parade, Trunk or Treat, Lily Festival and others] as manpower allows,” the report recommends.
“Further engagement opportunities can be sought…”
• A long-term, broad-based Citizens Advisory Board will be formed to hear any public safety concerns and work with the PD to solve any problems.
Both Officer Rossi and Trustee Johnson praised Ms. Quirion and her volunteers for their work.
“I think your recommendations are right on,” Mr. Johnson said.
He also praised LEAD, calling it “one of those things that’s practical and moral and can do a lot of good. It’s certainly in the spirit of Executive Order 203.”
Schoharie County’s LEAD is the first rural program of its kind and the first in the nation to involve more than one department; the Cobleskill PD signed on when Chief Jeff Brown was hired and now the Schoharie PD has also joined.