New York State Trooper Donald G. Langtry has been stationed in Moravia for 20 years.
A Moravia Central Schools graduate, Langtry was first on road patrol and is now a school resource officer in the district as part of the state police's SRO program that serves 119 school districts across the state.
But Moravia may no longer be Langtry's home base come June if Gov. Eliot Spitzer gets his way.
In his recently unveiled state budget, Spitzer proposed the elimination of the state police school resource officer program - a program in which state troopers are embedded in school districts to provide law enforcement, disciplinary and student counseling services - and the redeployment of its 92 troopers to Operation IMPACT, the state's inner-city crime reduction program, at the end of the academic year.
Operation IMPACT pairs state troopers with local law enforcement to combat crime committed in Upstate cities such as Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo.
Skaneateles Central School District and Jordan-Elbridge Central School District will also be affected by the proposal, as they share SRO Trooper Percy Clark III from Troop D.
“The governor's budget recommends the redeployment of State Resource Officers at the conclusion of the current school year,” according to a statement released by the Division of State Police. “These resources will be focused on our primary responsibility and fundamental priorities, including highway safety and the enhancement of crime reduction programs such as Operation IMPACT. The state police will remain working with school districts with their emergency planning and overall school safety programs. Troopers on patrol will continue to maintain the cooperative and interpersonal relationships established prior to, and during, the School Resource Officer Program.”
But while that is the official position of the state police, many local officials are displeased with the governor's proposal.
“I'm not happy with it,” said State Police Sgt. James McCormack, who, along with State Police Lt. Rick Oyer, oversee the SRO Program for Troop E out of Canandaigua. “I'm not saying that there isn't a need in Rochester or in Syracuse. There has certainly been success in the past, but it shouldn't be done at the expense of rural schools like Moravia.”
Moravia district Superintendent William Tammaro and board of education President Laura Wells both used “detriment” to describe Spitzer's proposal and its impact on the Moravia community.
“We are hoping the governor reverses his decision,” said Tammaro.
“What sometimes people forget is that we have a part-time police force in Moravia,” he added. “The role of the SRO is crucial for us.”
Tammaro pointed to a situation in 2006 when two Syracuse teens used a BB pistol to shoot at a Moravia Central School District bus driving in the Town of Locke.
“If we had to wait to phone in a call, we would not have gotten assistance as soon as we did,” he said.
Tammaro has been in contact with local state legislators such as Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio, R-Fayette, in the hopes that they can save the SRO program.
“It was deeply disappointing to learn Gov. Spitzer wants to eliminate our vital Student Resource Officer program,” said Nozzolio in a news release. “If it is the governor's priority to address gang and drug crime among our youth, removing SROs from these schools is completely counterproductive. I am firmly opposed to this and will be working to reverse the governor's proposal.
“As a longtime advocate for stronger law enforcement, I strongly support Operation IMPACT but our rural communities should not be neglected through budget cuts. Many of these rural communities do not have a full-time police force and redeploying SROs would put extreme pressure on the local municipalities' already overburdened part-time forces. The SRO program has been a success and I must oppose the governor's actions because I see it as a threat to public safety to the region I represent.”
Other school districts have SRO programs run by local law enforcement. Auburn Police SROs walk the hallways of the Auburn school district while the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office supplies the Southern Cayuga Central School District with a SRO. These programs, independent of the state police, will remain unchanged.
As for Langtry, he will follow his orders, whatever they may be, in June.
“I've been with the state police for almost 24 years now, so I'm used to change and I'm used to moving,” he said. “That comes with the job.
“I obviously and honestly enjoy working here with the school and with students and staff.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
But Moravia may no longer be Langtry's home base come June if Gov. Eliot Spitzer gets his way.
In his recently unveiled state budget, Spitzer proposed the elimination of the state police school resource officer program - a program in which state troopers are embedded in school districts to provide law enforcement, disciplinary and student counseling services - and the redeployment of its 92 troopers to Operation IMPACT, the state's inner-city crime reduction program, at the end of the academic year.
Operation IMPACT pairs state troopers with local law enforcement to combat crime committed in Upstate cities such as Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo.
Skaneateles Central School District and Jordan-Elbridge Central School District will also be affected by the proposal, as they share SRO Trooper Percy Clark III from Troop D.
“The governor's budget recommends the redeployment of State Resource Officers at the conclusion of the current school year,” according to a statement released by the Division of State Police. “These resources will be focused on our primary responsibility and fundamental priorities, including highway safety and the enhancement of crime reduction programs such as Operation IMPACT. The state police will remain working with school districts with their emergency planning and overall school safety programs. Troopers on patrol will continue to maintain the cooperative and interpersonal relationships established prior to, and during, the School Resource Officer Program.”
But while that is the official position of the state police, many local officials are displeased with the governor's proposal.
“I'm not happy with it,” said State Police Sgt. James McCormack, who, along with State Police Lt. Rick Oyer, oversee the SRO Program for Troop E out of Canandaigua. “I'm not saying that there isn't a need in Rochester or in Syracuse. There has certainly been success in the past, but it shouldn't be done at the expense of rural schools like Moravia.”
Moravia district Superintendent William Tammaro and board of education President Laura Wells both used “detriment” to describe Spitzer's proposal and its impact on the Moravia community.
“We are hoping the governor reverses his decision,” said Tammaro.
“What sometimes people forget is that we have a part-time police force in Moravia,” he added. “The role of the SRO is crucial for us.”
Tammaro pointed to a situation in 2006 when two Syracuse teens used a BB pistol to shoot at a Moravia Central School District bus driving in the Town of Locke.
“If we had to wait to phone in a call, we would not have gotten assistance as soon as we did,” he said.
Tammaro has been in contact with local state legislators such as Sen. Michael F. Nozzolio, R-Fayette, in the hopes that they can save the SRO program.
“It was deeply disappointing to learn Gov. Spitzer wants to eliminate our vital Student Resource Officer program,” said Nozzolio in a news release. “If it is the governor's priority to address gang and drug crime among our youth, removing SROs from these schools is completely counterproductive. I am firmly opposed to this and will be working to reverse the governor's proposal.
“As a longtime advocate for stronger law enforcement, I strongly support Operation IMPACT but our rural communities should not be neglected through budget cuts. Many of these rural communities do not have a full-time police force and redeploying SROs would put extreme pressure on the local municipalities' already overburdened part-time forces. The SRO program has been a success and I must oppose the governor's actions because I see it as a threat to public safety to the region I represent.”
Other school districts have SRO programs run by local law enforcement. Auburn Police SROs walk the hallways of the Auburn school district while the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office supplies the Southern Cayuga Central School District with a SRO. These programs, independent of the state police, will remain unchanged.
As for Langtry, he will follow his orders, whatever they may be, in June.
“I've been with the state police for almost 24 years now, so I'm used to change and I'm used to moving,” he said. “That comes with the job.
“I obviously and honestly enjoy working here with the school and with students and staff.”
Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 2 comment(s)
hilltop wrote on Feb 7, 2008 8:37 AM:
tome8689 wrote on Feb 6, 2008 4:30 PM: