During a discussion with two city residents about bail reform and its effect on the city recently, Russell noted the department is down to 57 officers – eight short of its full staffing level of 65 officers, That leads to longer times responding to calls, while Russell referred to the department’s staffing level as being “downright scary” and unsafe. Russell said he expects staffing to continue to be a problem.

“I guess the question I have is, where does it end?” Russell said. “What is the number of cops, is it 50, is it 55 until we get to where we can’t provide the basic services that our citizens are paying for?”

Russell said he has seen the frustrations of city police officers who are leaving and going to other departments without such a big call volume or different clientele, something Russell also noted to be happening nationwide.

Russell’s comments came during a discussion on bail reform laws by prompted by two city residents who spoke during Monday’s council meeting. Ronald Lord came to the council to speak on multiple issues he has had. The issue that most related to bail reform for Lord though, was an attack on the grandson of his friend in that friend’s house in the middle of the afternoon, with the three attackers being brought to jail and released half an hour later. He noted everything in the attack was on film due to cameras in the house.

Ronald Lord speaks to the City Council during the recent work session about issues he has seen when it comes to New York state bail reform. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

“Our city police are some of the best in the country, I believe that wholeheartedly,” Lord said. “I’ve been back almost two years now and have had the opportunity to meet several of our police force. The restraint that these men and women display in our streets is astounding for the crap they get dealt to them every single day of their lives. I’ve got to say that and every single chance I get I have to shake their hands and thank them for what they do.”

Those Lord said he has talked with have expressed frustrations with the state’s bail reform, including those he works with in a missing persons group that includes the Chautauqua County Police Department. Before Lord came to the work session he added he sent a letter to Councilman Jeff Russell, R-At Large, and Mayor Kim Ecklund’s office, and he has had a previous conversation with Russell.

“What Mr. Lord is frustrated with I’ll just say real quick, is he’s upset with the raise-the-age issue that we’ve heard so much about and also bail reform in the state of New York,” Russell said. “I kind of explained since he was living in Texas what has taken place with bail reform and raise-the-age and how that is a New York state thing, and like he said he commends the police department and everything they’ve done here in the city, but I explained to him on the phone that his fight is really with the state of New York.”

Russell also expressed some concerns with some local judges not remanding some people to the Chautauqua County jail in Mayville. Lord added he has come before city council with these issues, not to bring heat down on the city, but to go through the right channels and do things the right way to try and get something to change, asking what the city and residents can do to help to fix some of these issues in the city itself.

Another city resident, Paul Wolff, also spoke to the council on this issue after addressing some other issues he came to talk to the council about, including some issues he has been told through a neighborhood app. Wolff said the city has a bigger voice than city residents that have been affected by state bail reform, and asked if the city could go to the state to “step up” for city residents and help things get better.

The state Legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul have approved two bail reform rollbacks in recent years that include giving judges more authority to decide on pretrial release, including setting bail or other conditions like drug and mental health treatments, especially for offenses involving property damage or repeat offenses. There has also been expansion of bail-eligible crimes, including certain offenses, such as criminal possession of a weapon and some theft-related crimes, made eligible for bail again. The state has also removed the “least restrictive” standard that required judges to set the “least restrictive” condition necessary to ensure a defendant returns to court. And, the state now allows judges to consider a defendant’s criminal history and parole or probation status when determining whether to set bail.

Russell said the council has sent a resolution to the state in the past notifying those in Albany that they would like to see a repeal of bail reform and Raise the Age laws, and have continuously said that to state leaders.

“The governor fails to want to change it; the legislature fails to want to change it and until the right people are in those positions and listen to our voices that we want it repealed and replaced it’s still there,” Russell said.

It was also noted that the city cannot pass local legislation to supersede bail reform as it is a state law. Russell brought the issue up again later in the meeting, saying he was informed that the woman involved in the home invasion Lord mentioned was released without bail and with only the promise to return at a later day, though it remains a state issue with the city council unable to do anything to change it. This council does not have the legal authority to pass legislation that would allow us to supersede New York State bail reform or raise-the-age,” Russell said.

Council members agreed that the only thing that will change it is to get out and vote next year to get people in office that will think about the issue differently.