Cobleskill Mayor Becky Stanton-Terk pledged this week to rebuild the Police Department after eight officers resigned, blaming her and the village board as the reason.
Meanwhile, County Sheriff’s deputies and State Police will cover Cobleskill as best they can, although they’re short-handed as well.
On Monday, Mayor Stanton-Terk approached Sergeant Joe Rorick––one of four officers remaining––to see whether he’d take over as interim chief of police.
Sgt. Rorick Tuesday afternoon said he hadn’t made up his mind but would probably decide by the weekend.
“There are a lot of factors,” he said.
Sgt. Rorick appears to meet the Civil Service requirements because he has at least five years’ experience on the police force, Mayor Terk said.
“On paper, that’s what it looks like,” she added.
If Sgt. Rorick doesn’t take the post, Cobleskill will advertise for an interim chief, Mayor Stanton-Terk said.
“At the same time, we’ll advertise for more officers and see what we come up with.” She said.
“We’ll probably start advertising,” Mayor Stanton-Terk said, “but first and foremost, we have to change Civil Service.”
She and board members will also wait on the county’s stuffy of merging or sharing services between the Cobleskill PD and Sheriff’s Office.
There are legal questions, too. Mayor Stanton-Terk is working with village attorney Michelle Storm to see what Cobleskill’s responsibilities in having “a police force with no bodies to fill it,” the Mayor said.
“The village can’t be responsible for anything that happens if there’s a mass exodus like this,” she added.
Trying to encourage the resigned officers to return isn’t an option. Chief Justin Manchester, who resigned, said the officers won’t reconsider.
And Mayor Stanton-Terk doesn’t want them anyway.
“How effective are they going to be after pulling a stunt like this?” she asked.
Contacted Monday, Sheriff Ron Stevens said he wasn’t sure how to even start rebuilding.
“You had experienced, seasoned officers who had a reason to leave,” he said.
“How do you get other officers to come in? I’d hate to start from scratch.”
Deputies and troopers will serve Cobleskill just as they do the rest of the county. But Sheriff Stevens said the circumstances are challenging.
“It’s a delicate situation,” he said. “It’s a village issue that’s become a county issue.”
Mayor Stanton-Terk said deputies and troopers “have been doing a great job” and that they’re “a presence in Cobleskill.
“I don’t want anyone to panic,” she added. “We’re going to be okay. We’ll work through it.”
Not panicking but concerned is Cobleskill-Richmondville School Superintendent Matt Sickles.
He and the school board Monday night reviewed C-R’s School Safety Plan, which includes the Ryder-Golding campus that’s in the Cobleskill PD’s jurisdiction.
“We’re watching the Cobleskill Police Department situation closely,” Mr. Sickles said, adding that he’s also talked with County Undersheriff Bruce Baker.