Oneonta council OKs hiring of 5 officers

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February 22, 2012

By Jake Palmateer Staff Writer The Daily Star Wed Feb 22, 2012, 02:30 AM EST

ONEONTA _ The Common Council on Tuesday approved the hiring of five police officers, but not without dissent.

The hirings, which would occur after interviews of 16 candidates, would add one position to the department.

With Fourth Ward Council Member Mike Lynch absent, the council passed the measure by a 5-2 vote. Seventh Ward Council Member Robert Brzozowski and Eighth Ward Council Member Chip Holmes voted against it.

Brzozowski questioned why the city couldn't hire four officers and consider a fifth later, while Holmes indicated he was concerned about the impact on city finances.

After the meeting, Mayor Dick Miller said the split vote could be an indication of a different Common Council. There are five new representatives on the council, which has logged four meetings since Jan. 1.

"It's perhaps a more diverse council from an economic point of view," Miller said.

The police department is down three officers _ Michael Breen, who was fired over a police brutality case; Derrick Kruser, who transferred to another agency; and Anthony D'Agostino, who retired.

A fourth officer is expected to be out later this year on maternity leave, while a fifth, Sgt. George Flavell, is deploying to Afghanistan with the Air Force Reserves for about nine months.

In addition, Chief Gary O'Neill -- who was hired on an interim basis -- will be leaving at the end of April. A plan by Lt. Dennis Nayor, who was named the new chief in December, would involve hiring two lieutenants to serve under him when he is chief, and hiring of the five officers would account for that, according to the mayor.

"We're planning on the assumption we will do that," Miller said.

The fifth position would not have an impact on the city's budget this year, but would in 2013, according to the mayor.

"While the financial condition of the city is dire, the problems are not upon us yet," Miller said before the vote.

Eighty-two people took a recent written examination, which resulted in 16 candidates scoring the top three grades. Under civil service rules, the city must hire from among the top three scorers.

The next class at the Otsego County Law Enforcement Academy starts March 19, and Personnel Director Kathy Wolverton said she would be working on giving interviews, along with the O'Neill and Nayor in the coming weeks to be able to make job offers before the academy starts.

It takes about a year for officers to be fully trained.

The pre-vote discussion was focused at times on the issue of having two lieutenants instead of one. Five sergeants would remain under the plan. The city would look to promote from within through a promotional examination, according to Wolverton.

There is already an established list for the sergeants' positions that might be vacated by two promotions, she said.

Two lieutenants would lead to better supervision of the department, Third Ward Council Member David Rissberger said.

This added supervision could help prevent repeats of incidents at the department in recent years, First Ward Council Member Maureen Hennessy said.

Breen was involved in the alleged beating of a motorist after a traffic stop. Three other officers resigned in the wake of a 2009 scandal involving alleged on-duty drinking and sex.

Hennessy also noted OPD has rarely been at its full strength of 28 officers in recent years.

"This gives us an extra insurance policy," she said.

Second Ward Council Member Larry Malone said he agreed with Holmes' assessment of the city's financial condition. But he said he would vote for the fifth officer.

"I feel sometimes you have to make a decision based on not just where you are going but where you have been," he said.

Miller said he met last week with Oneonta Town Supervisor Robert Wood about the possibility of the city extending police protection to the town.

"It didn't lead to any conclusions or next steps," Miller said.