15 towns oppose loss of sheriff's road patrols

[steven]

The 15 towns in Erie County without their own police departments are determined to stick together as they face the possible elimination of Sheriff's Department road patrols.
Officials at a meeting Monday in Elma Town Hall said County Executive Joel A. Giambra has indicated he plans to cut $4.5 million from the Sheriff's Department's budget next year, the approximate amount it takes to keep about 100 deputies and detectives on the job.

Sheriff Timothy B. Howard said he hopes to avoid going to court to try to get the funds restored.

The town supervisors said they want to avoid a fight with the towns and cities that do have police departments over who gets what services and what they pay.

That would be a "slippery slope" best avoided, Howard said after the session.

Parks and libraries are one thing, but under no circumstances can there be compromises when public safety is at stake, several supervisors said.

If county government can't provide "the basic service of road patrols, it ought to get the hell out of business," Newstead Supervisor Gerald F. Summe said.

The idea that towns without police forces are getting free service from the county has been argued for years.

Elma Supervisor Michael P. Nolan said some towns don't have libraries and some residents don't use Erie County Medical Center. Still, everyone pays for them.

"We are not going to pay (additionally) for road patrols," Nolan said.

About 80 percent of the Sheriff Department's $56.6 million budget goes toward maintaining the Holding Center, Howard said.

And several supervisors were quick to point out most of the inmates are from Buffalo.

Last year, the Town of Sardinia had one inmate in the Holding Center for one day but still paid to operate it, Howard said.

Denise E. Marshall, R-Lancaster, was the only county legislator to attend the session.

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial...16/1055146.asp

[Linda_D]

Perhaps these towns -- all of which are on the periphery of the county anyways -- out to consider becoming parts of other counties. It would be a real boon to Erie County in that it wouldn't have to provide sheriff's patrols, road maintenance, libraries or parks and all the "infrastructure" these rural towns take up.

I'm sure the neighboring counties would welcome them because their tax bases would more than cover their modest share of county services they use.

Brant and Evans could become part of Chautauqua County. Boston, Colden, Collins, Concord, Eden, and Holland could become part of Cattaraugus County. Alden, Clarence, and Newstead could become part of Genesee County while Marilla, Sardinia, and Wales joined Wyoming County. Grand Island might also consider joining Niagara County.

[forreason]

Maybe these municipalities should be required not to expand their population base. One example is the Town of Clarence. They keep on expanding causing a substantial increase in incidents, crimes, etc. In fact, when a patrol is not available, Amherst Police respond east of Transit Rd. It is time that a town like this is forced to pay its way. That being said, try to visit a Clarence town park. If you are not a resident you are not allowed. But they "expect" to use some of the parks, recreational facilities of adjacent municipalities (especially the Town of Amherst).