Letter to the Editor:
I’ve heard it said that in show business it’s never wise to
follow an animal act. Apparently in
politics some feel the same way. They apparently want to perform with the
animal, not follow him.
What I’m referring to is the Sheriff’s K-9 proposal. To recap, this is a $90 thousand dollar state
grant, secured for us by Senator Cathy Young, that is being shared by us and
Cattaraugus County. The Sheriff has proposed spending our $45 Thousand on a
Drug K-9, a License Plate Reader and a Drone. It was tabled by the full board
at our meeting on January 9th. The intention was to allow time for more
deliberation, consideration and the submission of something else besides a
K-9. Or so I thought.
At today’s (2/2/17) Public Safety meeting the issue was
discussed and it’s apparently boiled down to the Sheriff’s choices or nothing
at all. We either take the dog or lose
the grant. There is no middle ground, no compromise to be had. All indications
are that the resolution in support of accepting this grant will be brought up
again at our full Board Meeting on Monday, February 13th at 2:00PM.
I’ve tried to make sense of this as best I can but cannot.
Facts are stubborn things. They don’t
lie, stretch the truth and are un-controvertible. They, along with truth and justice, ride a
slow horse but always win in the end. At least that has been my belief
throughout my life.
The fact is I too would love to be able to support this
resolution. I admire, respect and
appreciate everything Senator Young has done for us. I don’t like the thought
of looking a gift horse in the mouth, but this is one horse that needs closer
examination.
The fact is that if this proposal would have been discussed
where it should have – in an open meeting where everyone could see what it was
all about – discuss its merits and demerits before the decision was made by a
select few to spend it the way it’s proposed – I could have supported this
resolution.
The fact is that this proposed spending supports programs that
are typically performed by agencies that have a road patrol – our Sheriff’s
Office alleges that they have none.
The fact is that every program we’re involved in – above
that of running the jail and the Civil Division – is a duplication of services
already available to us by the New York State Police. Their training is impeccable. Their equipment
is the best available. But then our
Board would know nothing of that because they will not allow them to appear to
explain their ability to protect us 24/7/365.
The fact is that this grant is not – as we were told and
promised – reoccurring. It’s a onetime
grant and when the money is spent it’s done with. There is no guarantee that
such a grant will be offered again.
The fact is that we will have to assign another vehicle –
which will have to be modified to accommodate the dog – as a take home vehicle
for the handler. This will push the number of assigned vehicles in the
Sheriff’s Office up to 6.
The fact is the Board has been told, by competent authority,
that this move is an overtime generator and a legacy nightmare. They’re already changing numbers on how many
hours additional pay – per month - from 4 to 8 hours, the handler will be given
just to feed and train the dog. I
anticipate this expense alone will cost more than $20,000 over the anticipated
lifetime or usefulness of this dog. The proposed handler, during 2016, received
almost 1,000 hours in OT and a dog was not in his tool chest.
The fact is that during the last two major events here in
Allegany County, the State Police, within some 40 minutes, had 2 or 3 K-9’s, on
scene in Wellsville and Clarksville.
To me the items listed are expensive toys that will cost our
Taxpayers far more than what they are worth.
I applaud the Sheriff for wanting to take a bite out of crime. I applaud our Board for their desire to
support efforts directed at crime prevention.
The answer is to work with the State Police not in competition with
them. We need to eliminate as much
duplication and inefficiency as possible.
The only conclusion I can draw is that the Sheriff’s refusal
to submit anything other than this K-9 is a direct result of Chairman Curt
Crandall’s support for this purchase. My opinion is that he is confident that
Curt can obtain the magic 8 votes necessary to make this happen. Regardless of
what the facts, truth or justice says.
There is a little more than a week before the vote is taken so arms can
be twisted, promises made and promises delivered. I will not and am not
accusing anyone of doing or saying anything illegal all I’m saying is that if
you have the time and can be in Belmont on Monday, February 13th at 2:00 PM,
please stop by and see your government in action. If you can’t be there, please read about it
and educate yourself on how your Legislator voted. This is an election year and very soon they
will be calling on you for your help.
If you are inclined to contact them prior to this vote a
complete list of your legislators and the Sheriff appears below.
Sincerely yours,
Karl Graves, District 4 Legislator
