Buffalo's Phantom Police Department

Just like the Buffalo PD you probably "won’t see" this story in the Harper County Journal anytime soon. It has been determined that the Town of Buffalo still has a police department. This department exists on the books at City Hall and its monthly reports are being generated and sent to the necessary state agencies as required. It is not clear if these reports are compulsory by law to be sent or not. There never has been a vote (by the town board that is) to shut down, close, or dismantle the Town of Buffalo police department. The monthly reports that are being sent on to the State only affirm that there are no active officers at this time.

The only activity by the board, in the last year or so, regarding its own police department has been to sell some computer equipment to the HCSO. The police department has reached its current state due to attrition of its officers and the police chief. Well over a year ago, and within a few months of the last police employee’s departure, the board faced opportunities on at least two occasions to address the police department’s situation. What they did do is hire a code enforcement officer who resides in another town to write up code violations while being paid $12.00 per hour. That contract was renewed in June.

In addition to this, the board met with the HCSO on several occasions concerning contracting agreements. Those meetings occurred between July and October of 2011. There was never a vote held. Due to no motions ever being made, let alone seconded, no vote was held and therefore is listed in the minutes that no action was taken by the board to contract with the HCSO. I believe the last offer was for the HCSO to cover the town for $4000(+/-) a month for each officer with a minimum of two. This would be equal to $96,000(+/-) per year cost to the Town of Buffalo for the western themed guns for hire program. (Please correct me if I am wrong on the latest amounts)

During the most recent July meeting there was a sparse, but thorough, attendance of concerned citizens addressing the board during its public comments section of the meeting. One of the most revealing issues I realized is that a majority of the board is not getting any of our concerns being voiced simply due to the fact they do not have Facebook accounts. It is not clear to me if they even have smart phones, email, or even access to a computer for that matter. So keep this in mind when you see FB comments being made or blog articles that are written or anonymous blog comments. More than likely a majority of the board is not seeing it. Because of this I am not certain they are even aware of the gravity of the town’s situation as being presented by the citizens and the HCSO. They may not even be remotely aware that there is a problem.

Having recently been challenged to "get off my ass and do something", which was "liked" by numerous people,  just may be what everybody will need to do to make the board aware of the issue of law enforcement.

What Would Sheriff Taylor Have Done?

The existence of Mayberry in our hearts and minds has been brought to light with the recent passing of Andy Griffith. The world’s favorite sheriff was always Sheriff Taylor. Everyone that grew up in a small town had a special kinship and imagination with all of the characters of Mayberry RFD. We often thought about people that we new in our community and placed them as being the various characters from the sitcom we grew up watching. We all felt like we were from Mayberry or that they could have done a show like that in our hometown and it would have turned out the same. Learning of Andy Griffith’s death almost brings out a sense of hopelessness and fear that small town America has passed away.

The recent trends of the criminal activity in and around Buffalo is rudely awakening us that part of this may be true. So has Mayberry died in our hearts? I don’t think so. I see a concern by the similar characters of our town. Heck even the folks over at Mount Pilot are chiming in to help. Various characters are becoming involved and issues are being addressed.

Often you might see an episode on the show when the obvious villains were in town. One common plot was somehow all of the characters became involved in making Mayberry safe again. Everyone worked together to figure out a way that they could get back to their normal everyday lives.

In our Mayberry episode, one of the issues is that Sheriff Taylor does not have the ability to enforce all of the laws on the books.Depending on where he is at, some laws are unavailable for him to use. The Harper County Sheriffs Office (HCSO) cannot catch those obvious villains in town without some changes being made.

For the HCSO to do its job in the most effect manner, it at times, may be necessary for the sheriff and deputies to have the ability to enforce a city ordinance. It is being presented, that an agreement must be in place that allows the HCSO to act on city ordinance. This is critical to be able to be most effective when certain occasions arise, such as a curfew violation.

This need is a county wide need and is independent of whether or not the HCSO is providing further police protection through an additional arrangement of police patrol. An agreement should be in existence with all municipal governments in the county that have ordinances. The “ability to enforce ordinances” issue is completely independent of the amount of manpower the HCSO possesses. The ordinance issue is not unique to any one specific municipal government. If the HCSO desires to be as effective that it can possibly be, in all parts of the county, it is advantageous to establish such an agreement with all the towns in the county that have ordinances.

The ability to enforce city ordinances throughout the county is independent of the towns, it is independent of whether police patrol is provided, and it is independent of the current state of manpower the department has.

What will the characters of Mayberry do?

I wonder what Sheriff Taylor would have done.

GET OFF YOUR ASS AND DO SOMETHING

On Facebook it has been suggested to me, several times just this last weekend, to do something about the recent crime increase that we have been having in Buffalo. It seems that there are several people that “like” the suggestion that I do something about these problems. So here it goes.

One of the issues is lack of manpower to police the streets of Buffalo. It is common knowledge that the Town of Buffalo (TofB); for reasons that I do not know; has disbanded its Police Department (I think I know why but I'll keep that to myself for now).

It is left up to the Harper County Sheriffs Office (HCSO) to enforce the laws within the city limits of Buffalo. The HCSO concedes that they are spread too thin to provide the protection that Buffalo needs. They want more manpower. Currently there is an impasse between the TofB and the HCSO in reaching a solution to the lack of officers to patrol the town.

It has been suggested that Neighborhood Watches be formed to help out with the shortage of manpower. One can google that topic and find numerous strategies and helpful organizations to guide a community successfully towards a safer community. One common guideline, from different googled pages, stresses the importance of establishing a relationship between the watch groups and the local law enforcement agency which, in this case, is the HCSO. I am not aware if the HCSO has experience and training for implementing any of these watches or not. It is not clear to me if any area organizations can provide any guidance, whether it be a civic group or some sort of law enforcement association.

Let’s just imagine that everything falls into place, the people unite, the entities embrace and the watch groups are organized and implemented to actual on the ground activity. The groups are actively watching and notice unusual behavior or even worse criminal activity. The group witnesses something as simple as popping a fire cracker by a juvenile out past his curfew. It is clearly a violation of city ordinance for two possible issues. The HCSO is called and they respond. Or do they?

Even if they do, as it has been pointed out in the past, the HCSO “can not act on any city ordinance” issues. So that leaves the development, organization, recruitment efforts, and implementation of the Neighborhood Watch group in the same position that the HCSO is now, with their hands tied and the inability to do anything about crimes being committed.

So given that hands are tied because HCSO “can’t act on city ordinance violations” shouldn’t the first order of business, and one step in fast tracking towards a solution to part of the problem, be to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Town of Buffalo for the immediate time being that will allow the HCSO to enforce city ordinances?

A zero cost agreement should always be in existence no matter what the status of manpower is at the time. It should be renewed annually whether or not there is a contract for police coverage for the town by HCSO. It should be renewed annually if even a city police dept exists or not in Buffalo. 

Let’s remove those cuffs so they can be used where they are needed. It seems that currently more manpower or any Neighborhood Watch group that has its hands tied like the HCSO is of no use.

Local Crime Sprees Capture Our Attention

The recent local crimes that have been occurring in Buffalo have captured the attention of its townsfolk. Some recent postings on various Facebook(FB) walls and statuses have been generating some comments, ideas, suggestions, along with the usual blaming and bashing of one another. Nevertheless, some different possible solutions have been generated on various FB accounts. I find it very challenging to follow along with various thoughts coming from all of these different FB pages that are out there. Some people may or may not have FB friendships or privileges to see what is being discussed from the various FB outlets.

In summary what is being said is that we have a shortage of Law officers and that is directly impacting the crime increase that we are seeing locally. There is no argument there. The recent crime sprees point to this as being quite evident. The solutions to cure this dilemma are where the discussion becomes cloudy at times. Given that a shortage of manpower exists the fix would seem to lean towards more manpower. Herein the cloudiness of this topic develops.

It is being written that the Harper County Sheriffs Office (HCSO) cannot enforce any of the city ordinances that the Town of Buffalo has on its books.

Via their FB this question was asked of the HCSO “but is curfew a city ordinance issue?” of which they responded “Yes it is a City Ordinance issue. We can not act on it.”

So given that their hands are tied because they “can’t act on city ordinance violations” shouldn’t the first order of business, and one step in fast tracking towards a solution to part of the problem, be to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Town of Buffalo for the immediate time being that will allow the HCSO to enforce city ordinances?

This agreement should always be in existance no matter what the status of manpower is at the time. It should be renewed annually whether or not there is a contract for police coverage for the town by HCSO. It should be renewed annually if even a city police dept exists or not in Buffalo.

The Town of Buffalo has no police but they have ordinances that could help curb some of the vandalism that is happening within the city limits. The HCSO has manpower that has its hands tied. Lets remove those cuffs so they can be used where they are needed. 



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THE ULTIMATE PRICE PAID FOR YOUR FREEDOMS

Remember that this Memorial Day weekend is a commemoration for the soldiers of our great nation who have given their lives. Let us not be nonchalant in our recognition of those sacrifices that were made. The very freedoms, that weeks-years-decades and centuries ago were fought for, are far too often taken for granted in our hustle and bustle way of life. The freedoms of our country are beyond compare with anywhere else in the world. Celebrate by holding dearly next to your heart The Bill of Rights. Clasp onto them as tightly, as unyielding, as that of the weapon of the fallen soldier as he gasped for his last breathe of air on earth. And let not the last beat of his heart to have been in vain, as you reflect on this Memorial Day Holiday, along with all of the freedoms that you enjoy.

$297,000 WATER SPRINKLER BUDGET

The Town of Buffalo will install an irrigation system in the existing Doby Springs Golf Course. Labor and Materials will be in accordance with the Budget submitted for this project. Approved Federal Funds $148,500. Town of Buffalo responsible for the other $148,500?

Budgeted labor and materials committed for street repairs $0.
Budgeted labor and materials committed for replacing asbestos pipes $0.
Budgeted labor and materials committed for fixing fire hydrants $0.
Budgeted labor and materials committed for fixing ..... . . . . .

Voting by the esteemed board to be held Cinco de Mayo.

Excerpts from Chief of Police Report

"I am finishing up an investigation with the OSBI that should produce a substantial warrant for arrest."

"We did receive a complaint of a serious charge against another law enforcement officer in this county."

"The case due to the circumstances was immediately turned over to the OSBI."

"People one word "zoning," it has to be done."

"I have asked James to start looking for a grant for Tasers."

"I will strive to make it as painless as possible with the help of our fearless attorney"

PAST BUFFALO WATER TEST REPORT FROM DEQ

In this PAST DEQ TEST RESULT you can see that out of the 17 only three were less than the reportable level. Previous tests show similar results prior to this one that was sampled on 11-05-2007.

You want some GROSS ALPHA, EXCLUDING RADON & URANIUM in your water, got it.

You need a little GROSS ALPHA, INCLUDING RADON & URANIUM, check!

How about COMBINED URANIUM, you betcha.

Won't settle for swig without COMBINED RADIUM (-226 & -228), enjoy.

And for good measure there is some RADIUM-228 straight up on the rocks.

Just sayin

TOWN OF BUFFALO’S CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT RECOMMENDS MODIFICATION OF THE EXISTING ORDINANCE

After many unsuccessful attempts to make changes to ordinance #329, perhaps, with the CPA’s recommendation, the Trustees will do what should have been done long ago. Attempts were made back in August 9,2007 to make the needed changes to the ordinance. That was also followed by efforts to change ordinance #329 occurring in two separate meetings that where held in January 7,2009 and January 21,2009 . After 3 failed attempts in the last two years, will the auditors advice garner the attention needed to get this done once and for all?

The following excerpt is from the latest CPA report

“Based on the work performed to date with this engagement and the complexities involved in correctly calculating both statutory and extra duty pay consistent with the intent of the current Board of Trustees, we recommend considering a modification of the existing ordinance which would fix statutory pay and make future raises limited to additions to extra duty pay. ”

Enough Said!