Gouverneur chief says $250,000 cut would cost 4 to 5 officers

GOUVERNEUR — A $250,000 cut in the Gouverneur Police Department would mean the loss of four to five full-time positions, Police Chief David C. Whitton said.

Mr. Whitton turned in a report to the village Board of Trustees Monday explaining how a cut of that size — approximately 40 percent of the police budget — would affect his department, which has four full-time dispatchers and eight officers.

"It's all personnel. There's no other areas you can make that cut," he said. "I don't identify individuals, just positions. It's a mix."

Mr. Whitton wouldn't detail the positions he named, but said losses of dispatchers and officers would occur through attrition and layoffs if the board proceeds.

"Minimally, 80 hours of road patrol would be gone," he said. "It's not my recommendations and I want to emphasize that."

Officers patrol an average of 168 hours weekly, so nearly half would be lost.

Mr. Whitton's list reflects the decision of Sgt. Mark H. Ashley to retire next year but doesn't include savings that would come if he retired as chief.

"I don't have any immediate plans," Mr. Whitton said.

Mayor Dorothy L. Vorce declined comment on specifics in Mr. Whitton's report, but said he did a good job.

"I had confidence in David. He's not too happy about it. He doesn't recommend it, but he did well," she said. "I'm not going to discuss it until the board members have a chance to see it."

The board approved a budget earlier this year that raised the tax levy 21.4 percent. To avoid another large tax increase, the board focused on the police department as a place to reduce.

The department's budget includes four school crossing guards and a parking enforcement officer, but those part-time positions cost little or generate revenue so they make no sense to cut, Mr. Whitton said.

Losing dispatchers would put officers behind the desk rather than on patrol.

"This office has to run. They'd be confined here," Mr. Whitton said. "Obviously, there's going to be times when officers would be working alone when they shouldn't be."

The loss of positions might not save as much money as anticipated.

"It would cost more in overtime, in my judgment," Mr. Whitton said. "Would you have the personnel even to do the overtime is my question."

Mr. Whitton said he had not worked out a schedule, so he wasn't sure how the cuts would affect 24-hour service. However, he said he would work to protect children.

"It's a big school system. They're a priority to me," he said. "You have to have a level of response."

Mrs. Vorce said the board will take its time.

"We will work with Dave," she said. "We are going to have police protection."