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CITIZENS FOR SPAFFORD MEETING: FEB. 21, 2004
Present at this meeting: Joyce Barnett, Linda Sanders, Ed Lukens, Peter
Payntar, Gianfranco and Johanna Frittelli, Lauri Clark, Frank Moran, Barry
Kahn, Richard Malcolm, Joyce Green
BARRY KAHN asked Town of Cicero Police Chief, Joseph F. Snell, to come and give a presentation about their VIPS
Program at the last CFS meeting, February 21, 2004.
VIPS, or Volunteers in Police Service, is a locally driven Citizens Corps Program,
founded in 1997 by Chief Snell. It is the first program of it's kind in New York State.
"One of the distinguishing marks of a democratic society."
The Dept of Justice launched in program in 2002, and received Federal backing, as it does today. The purpose of VIPS is to train volunteers from the community to perform administrative & non-intervention policing
activities --- freeing up Police officers for frontline duty.
In Spafford, we're served by the State Police and Onondaga County Sheriff's
program.
Some key points:
VIPS is not a vigilante group
It has no police power. Volunteers just serve as the "eyes and ears" for law enforcement.
A VIPS Program must be affiliated with one of the two law enforcement agencies.
Some common duties:
Provide traffic control at community events
Conduct child fingerprinting program
Victim Assist Program
Mentor at-risk youth
High visibility patrol
Administration - data entry
Routine patrol of neighborhoods
Property checks (any suspicious activity they call a law enforcement officer, on a radio separate channel)
VIPS members have distinct uniforms, and yellow lights on top of their cars.
VIPS members can carry pepper spray. Chief Snell says it's legal now, and mainly used for problem dogs. VIPS members always go out in pairs.
You mold the program to fit your community--every community is different, and may have different needs. i.e. Check vacation homes.
Volunteers should be covered under the Town's insurance (liability)
policy.
VIPS volunteers go through a 40-hr training with Law Enforcement, and then they're paired with a police officer until that officer thinks they're ready.
Chief Snell said they need 6 or 7 applicants before they schedule a 40-hr "academy" -- usually done in late spring or fall.
He also suggests that anyone interested ride with an officer on a Friday or Saturday night.
Other sources for information:
International
Association of Chiefs of Police
Citizen Corps Leadership Conference
American Red Cross
FRANK MORAN RE: BORODINO LANDING
Frank Moran measured the center of the road and right-of-way, and found that the amount the town actually owns is 48 1/2 feet.
This is less than what the public is using now. There was some discussion
of the Denslow property (approx. 1.6 acres), and Bill Fesko property (owner of the white buildings, sometimes referred to as "shacks").
Fesko says he owns 210' of lake frontage, and his annual assessment is $200,000.
Moran planned to talk with Gail Fesko to find out more, and present his findings and concerns at the next Town Board meeting.
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CITIZENS FOR SPAFFORD
Meets the third Saturday each
month
at 10 am
Spafford Town Hall
Community Room
Meeting notes
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November 2003
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December 2003
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January 2004
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February 2004
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