Recruiting officers for the Cobleskill Police Department is coming slowly but surely, according to Chief Jim McCrum.
Slowly because of rules and regulations he must follow.
Surely because he’s still trying.
Cobleskill Village Board members hired Chief McCrum in early August, a couple of weeks after eight officers resigned, leaving a skeleton force.
Since then, he’s been trying to rebuild the force, looking at potential full- and part-time candidates.
But Chief McCrum must follow state and county Civil Service regulations. As a State Police veteran, he’s unfamiliar with Civil Service processes because State Police has its own system.
“The county Civil Service has helped a lot, but it’s complex,” Chief McCrum said. “It’s almost like one of those puzzles you can’t solve.”
At the same time, new hires must have police certification.
The Cobleskill PD had five officers in August, including Chief McCrum and Lieutenant-Investigator George Bird.
But Lieutenant Bird is temporarily off the force because it’s unclear whether the village can hire him in accordance with Civil Service.
So now, the PD is down to four officers.
“We have to figure out Civil Service,” Chief McCrum said of Lieutenant Bird’s situation. “I don’t want to do anything that’s not the right way.
“I’m learning, but it’s frustrating, too.”
At Tuesday night’s village board meeting, Chief McCrum said it may be possible to bring back Lieutenant Bird by giving him a new title.
There’s been progress nonetheless. A part-time officer who’s been with the Schoharie Police Department may be hired, and another candidate took the Civil Service exam and has police certification. All he needs is a background check.
Chief McCrum also has a half-dozen new applicants that are possibilities. If any are hired, training will take time.
Another factor is the Laberge study, which is looking at options for merging the Cobleskill PD with the Schoharie County Sheriff’s Office.
One option has a smaller Cobleskill department with added coverage from county deputies; another eliminates the Cobleskill PD and has deputies cover the village.
There’s been no final decision on the Laberge study.
“Everyone I’ve talked to wants to keep a police department here in Cobleskill,” Chief McCrum said.
He’s giving no timeline for a rebuilt department but is targeting five or six full-time officers, a chief, lieutenant and sergeant, “maybe supplemented with part-timers,” Chief McCrum said.
“We’d do the best schedule possible considering coverage and supervision.”