Tyksinski rethinks approach to New Hartford policing

By ELIZABETH COOPER

Observer-Dispatch

Posted Jan 27, 2010 @ 07:49 PM

Last update Jan 27, 2010 @ 11:42 PM

NEW HARTFORD —

The retirement of longtime town Police Chief Raymond Philo could open the way to changes in the department's functions and even regionalization of police duties in Oneida County's largest town.

Town Supervisor Patrick Tyksinski said he wants to look into having the Oneida County Sheriff's Office or the State Police take over some of what the town police department now does.

The next police chief is would have to be open to that or other possible changes, he said.

"You want someone who is going to go in the direction that the board wants them to go," he said.

The five-person town board, which includes Tyksinski, gets to make the hire after the candidates have taken the proper Civil Service test.

Board members reached Tuesday said Philo had made important changes in the department in the 17 years he has been chief, but they said they also like the idea of getting a fresh perspective.

"We have to see it as an opportunity for someone new with new ideas to come in and help change the financial landscape," board member Christine Krupa said.

Shared crimefighting?

Tyksinski said he wants to determine whether the Sheriff or State Police could take on certain of the duties of the New Hartford Police Department, including investigating white-collar crimes.

"I'm not saying we want the sheriff to patrol," he said. "But I think there are some areas where we could use them more than we do."

Board member Don Backman said he thought the town police department was doing a good job, but if other agencies helped out, it could save money.

"No one is going to disembowel the police department," Backman said. "But we can't afford to be an island unto ourselves any more."

Calls for regionalization or merging of police departments have been around for years in the Mohawk Valley, most frequently in neighboring Whitestown, which has five police departments within its borders. But steps to make changes occur have not been forthcoming.

New Hartford Town Board member David Reynolds praised the police department, but said he didn't know whether such changes were feasible or not.

Undersheriff Peter Paravati said Sheriff Dan Middaugh has always been willing to work with municipalities to consolidate services.

"If the local leader or board will ask, we will do an analysis on resources and costs," Paravati said.

The State Police would likely not be able to help, Capt Francis Coots of the state police at Marcy said.

"Considering how constrained budgets are, the state police would never be able to assume any type of public safety in any municipality that currently has a police department," Coots said. "We just don't have the resources."

Rocco Deperno, the attorney for the Joseph Corr Policeman's Benevolent Association, which represents the town's police officers, had a different idea. He said the town could consider selling its services to the county for coverage of other municipalities.

"I think the town supervisor is selling the town short without first engaging in that type of analysis," he said.

If the town wants to transfer any of its police department's existing functions to another agency, it must first negotiate that with the union, he said.

The succession

Whoever succeeds Philo won't be officially named chief until March 2011.

That's because the Civil Service test required for the job is scheduled for this March, but the town won't be ready by then, Oneida County Personnel Commissioner John Talerico said.

Since Philo was appointed in 1993, the chief's job description has grown out of date. The town has undergone dramatic growth in the 17 years Philo was chief and the demands of the job have evolved to match, officials said.

The next test won't be offered for another year, Talerico said.

This particular test has not been offered in Oneida County for many years, because it hasn't been necessary, Talerico said. Civil Service tests for police chiefs vary depending on the size of the departments.

Candidates for the job of New Hartford chief must take an exam for departments of between 10 and 50 full time positions.

An acting chief can be appointed as soon as Philo leaves. After three months, a provisional chief must be appointed to serve until the exam. It's possible all three roles could be filled by the same person, Talerico said.

What's next

* New Hartford Police Chief Raymond Philo officially retires March 13

* An acting chief will be appointed to run the department in his absence, but the individual can only serve in that capacity for three months.

* A provisional chief must be appointed after three months. That person can be the same person who served as acting chief and also could become the official chief.

* The civil service test for the position will not be given until March 2011