On the job barely two weeks, Cobleskill’s new police chief is already recruiting officers to rebuild the department.
And with Jim McCrum’s contacts in Capital District law enforcement, he’s optimistic about it.
Eight officers resigned in late July, leaving a sergeant and two patrol officers. The village board hired George Bird as lieutenant-investigator and Chief McCrum in early August.
“It’s basically a five-man department right now,” Chief McCrum said Monday.
The department won’t stay that way. Chief McCrum is looking to hire at least three full-time officers and supplement their hours with part-timers.
A 20-plus-year veteran of the State Police and having worked with the Schenectady County District Attorney, Chief McCrum has contacts and links with many regional law-enforcement agencies.
“With all our contacts, we have about two dozen prospective full-time or part-time officers,” he said.
Some of those are retired officers who might want to work part-time, some who work full-time but want to add part-time work, and other officers who could be looking for a new full-time post.
“A lot of people in law enforcement like to stay involved,” Chief McCrum said. “It may not be a money thing. It’s in our blood. That’s how some of us are geared.
“Look at me. I’m retired State Police, and I’m back,” he added, laughing.
Even though there’s a statewide shortage of officers at all levels, candidates may be interested in Cobleskill, rural area with a commercial center.
“You’re not as busy, but you’re also not waiting eight hours for a call,” Chief McCrum said.
Chief McCrum plans to advertise for officers and also reach out to colleges that have law-enforcement programs.
The Cobleskill PD could help with a student’s second phase of training if that student has finished the first, he said.
None of this will happen overnight. Interviews, training, refresher courses and getting familiar with Cobleskill are all in the mix.
“Learn the area, learn the people, learn Schoharie County,” Chief McCrum said. “I’m hoping by Thanksgiving, Christmas, we have a handful of part-timers.”
Going forward, Mayor Becky Stanton-Terk hopes the Police Department costs fit her idea of a budget. The PD’s 2023 budget is $1.6 million, of which $1.4 million is salaries, and Mayor Stanton-Terk wants to cut that in half.
“But I don’t know whether that’s realistic,” she said Monday.
And whatever the budget is, village officials don’t want to see the Police Department dissolved, a possibility rumored earlier this year.
“Talk to others, and everybody wants the Police Department to continue,” Chief McCrum said.
“I came in at a major time of change, and I hope I have a good impact.”