SILVER CREEK – Mayor Nick Piccolo confirmed Friday that he had contacted the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office to start covering the Village of Silver Creek at 7 a.m. today.
The village had received a proposal from Sheriff Joseph Gerace for coverage but had not taken any action.
The Silver Creek Police Department has lost several full-time officers over the last year and has been supplementing the police force with part-time patrolmen.
Piccolo said the part-time officers have demands at their other jobs that have made it difficult for them to cover the extra shifts in the village.
The mayor admitted he took the action without a special meeting of the Village Board.
He did not reveal whether there would be a fee involved to pay the Sheriff’s Office to patrol the village. He said the village would supply gasoline for the patrol car.
Piccolo said he would discuss the issue further at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.
He said the issue of coverage just came up within the last two or three days.
“I don’t want the village to go unprotected,” said Piccolo.
“Down the road I see this as a joint venture between Silver Creek, the Town of Hanover and possibly the Village of Forestville,” Piccolo said.
Silver Creek Police Chief Timothy Roche confirmed that he knew of the plan for the Sheriff’s Office to take over in the village.
He said he would not comment further until the public meeting Monday. The chief did point out that there has been a long-standing agreement with the State Police to supply back-up services when they are needed in the village.
The village had received a proposal from Sheriff Joseph Gerace for coverage but had not taken any action.
The Silver Creek Police Department has lost several full-time officers over the last year and has been supplementing the police force with part-time patrolmen.
Piccolo said the part-time officers have demands at their other jobs that have made it difficult for them to cover the extra shifts in the village.
The mayor admitted he took the action without a special meeting of the Village Board.
He did not reveal whether there would be a fee involved to pay the Sheriff’s Office to patrol the village. He said the village would supply gasoline for the patrol car.
Piccolo said he would discuss the issue further at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Monday.
He said the issue of coverage just came up within the last two or three days.
“I don’t want the village to go unprotected,” said Piccolo.
“Down the road I see this as a joint venture between Silver Creek, the Town of Hanover and possibly the Village of Forestville,” Piccolo said.
Silver Creek Police Chief Timothy Roche confirmed that he knew of the plan for the Sheriff’s Office to take over in the village.
He said he would not comment further until the public meeting Monday. The chief did point out that there has been a long-standing agreement with the State Police to supply back-up services when they are needed in the village.