Press Releases
These are important press releases we've issued
recently
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. -
Thursday March 4, 2010
Parking
Ticket Amnesty Program Announced by DPS Commissioner Richard Wirth
Click
Thumbnail
Saratoga Springs, N.Y. -
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Nixle.com - New Public Information Tool for SSPD
The Saratoga Springs Police Department, under the direction of Public Safety
Commissioner Richard Wirth, announces a new program which will enable the Police
Department to instantly communicate with the public via the internet, email, and
text messaging services. The program is run through Nixle.com, a secure website,
and is administered at no cost to the department or individual subscriber
(although text messaging rates through a subscriber’s phone carrier may still
apply). The service is currently offered nationwide and according the the Nixle
website, over 3,800 public safety agencies and other organizations are
registered to use the site.
The Department will now
have the ability to instantly send Alerts, Advisories, and Traffic Information
directly to the cell phones and email addresses of those subscribing to the
system and will also have the ability to target the messages to specific
geographic locations, if necessary.
“The department is constantly looking to upgrade its technology and with it,
the ability to communicate
with the public. Nixle.com affords us another way to enhance our ability to
instantly warn residents of
emergency situations and dangers that may require immediate attention, locate
lost or missing persons,
advise of traffic accidents and detours, and send other important public safety
related messages”, said
Chief Christopher Cole.
The subscription to this service is voluntary but in order to receive messages
from the Department, it is first necessary to subscribe. The individual user can
simply go to the Nixle website (www.nixle.com)
and follow the instructions. The public should be aware that Nixle will not
share any personal information such as usernames, email addresses, and cellphone
numbers with the police department in any way.
The public can subscribe
at any time but the Department will begin using this service, when necessary, on
Saturday, February 27, 2010.
Saratoga Springs, NY, --
Friday, February 12, 2010
Hannaford
Bank Robbery Arrest
The Saratoga Springs Police Department
and the U.S. Attorney’s office in Albany announces the arrest of Michael G.
Killion, DOB 04/16/1976, in connection with the September 17th, 2009, robbery of
the Citizens Bank branch located in the Hannaford Supermarket on Weibel Ave in
the city of Saratoga Springs. Killion, who has a long history of felony arrests,
had been living out of his 1993 Buick Riviera at the time of the robbery. At the
time of his arrest on September 18th, 2009, in Rensselaer, Killion was in
possession of a Walther PPK .380ACP handgun. Killion did not display a weapon at
the time of the Citizens Bank robbery. Killion plead guilty on February 11th ,
2010, to charges related to the Bank Robbery and the Possession of a Weapon in
U.S. District Court in Albany before U.S. District Judge Lawrence Kahn. Killion
has prior convictions for robbery that did involve the possession of a firearm
or other weapon. Killion will be sentenced at a later date.
The Saratoga Springs Police Department would like to recognize the outstanding
work done by Inv. Robert Dennis and the members of the Saratoga Springs Police
Investigation Division. We would also like to thank the U.S. Attorney’s Office,
FBI, US Marshal’s Office, Federal Parole, NYS Parole, Syracuse Police Department
and the Hartford, CT Police Department for their assistance in bringing this
case to a successful conclusion.
Saratoga Springs, NY, --
Thursday, January 21, 2010.
D.A.R.E. Program to be
Discontinued
The Department of Public
Safety regretfully announces that the DARE program, initially implemented
by the department in 1989, will be reorganized at the end of the 2009-2010
school year. With the loss of
seven (7) patrol officer positions from its 2010 operating budget, the
department has been forced to
review all of the services and programs it currently provides to the public in
order to ensure efficient
operation and uninterrupted responses to calls for service. While the formal
structure and curriculum of
the DARE program will be lost due to these deep cuts, the department remains
committed to continue to
work closely with both the Saratoga Springs City School District and the
Prevention Council of
Saratoga County to provide important and essential education to our youth
regarding the use and abuse
of drugs and alcohol.
Over the course of the next several months, representatives of the Police
Department, City School
District, and the Prevention Council will meet to discuss specific alternative
programs and options with
the intent of being prepared for the 2010-2011 school year. “Over the past
twenty-one (21) years, literally
thousands of children and young adults have had the opportunity to benefit and
personally interact
with members of this department while learning extremely valuable lessons
regarding not only drug and
alcohol use, but life skills as well. We are committed to our youth and will
continue to do the best we
can, working within our budget, to help give kids the tools they need to succeed
in life. We truly appreciate
the overwhelming support this program has received over the years from the
school district,
parents and especially the children”, said Police Chief Christopher Cole.
Janice White, Superintendent of the Saratoga Springs City School District issued
the following
statement: “The common purpose and collaboration between the Saratoga Springs
City School District
and the Saratoga Springs Police Department will continue through this
transition. Circumstances
required reevaluation of this program in the current economic climate. Ensuring
that students have the
knowledge and skills they need to make good decisions is a priority”.
Maureen Cary from the Saratoga Partnership for Prevention said, “The DARE
program has been singularly
successful in Saratoga because of the personal quality and integrity of the
officers who teach and
interact with the students. The Saratoga Partnership for Prevention will
continue to provide as many
opportunities as possible for youth to interact with adults in the community,
including local law enforcement,
to form positive connections that encourage their healthy development.”
Saratoga Springs, NY, -- Wednesday, January 13, 2010.
Charges Filed in "First
Night" Traffic Accident
On December 31, 2009 at about 7:00 PM
during the First Night Celebration, Saratoga Springs City Police responded to
the area of Broadway and Caroline Street for a report of a vehicle-pedestrian
accident. Two pedestrians had been struck by a vehicle traveling north on
Broadway and sustained serious but non-life threatening injuries. Both
pedestrians were transported to Albany Medical Center that night.
The investigation of the accident revealed
that the two pedestrians, WARREN and KATHERINE FREDERICK (age 59 and 60
respectively) of Clifton Park walked into the roadway outside of the marked
crosswalk at Broadway and Caroline Street just prior to the accident. The
traffic signal at the intersection of Broadway and Caroline indicated a green
signal for the operator of the vehicle at the time of the accident. Patrol and
Traffic Division members of the Police Department conducted an investigation
into the accident including interviews with several witnesses. As a result of
the investigation both Warren and Katherine Frederick were each issued traffic
citations for violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law section
1151-B, which states:
“No pedestrian
shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety
and walk or run
into the path of a vehicle which is so close that it
is impractical for
the driver to yield.”
No charges have been filed against the
operator of the vehicle. The name of the driver is not being released by Police
at this time. Both Mr. And Mrs. Frederick are scheduled to appear in Saratoga
Springs City Court on February 24, 2010. Police have no further information on
the medical condition of Mr. or Mr. Frederick. Police do not believe that
alcohol was a contributing factor in this accident.
Released January 12, 2010
Suspicious man attempts to
entice 12 year
old into car; Police looking for witnesses
On Monday January 11, 2009 Saratoga Springs
Police responded to a report of a possible attempted abduction on the City’s
West Side. Police were called by the father of a 12-year-old boy who
reported that while his 12-year-old son was walking home from school on Beekman
Street just off of Church Street, his son was approached by a white male driving a dark colored sedan with
tinted windows. The male inside told the boy to “come on, get in, I have
something for you.” The youth immediately ran home and told his father
about the incident. The victim was able to provide a few details of the
suspect that police are not releasing at this time in the best interests of the
investigation.
Police stopped several vehicles in the area
matching the description given by the 12-year-old without developing any leads.
Police have notified their school crossing guards of the incident and asked them
to be extra vigilant in noticing vehicles that are acting suspiciously around
the schools. City Police and Saratoga Springs City School District
officials are working cooperatively to make every effort to ensure the safety of
school age children. Alternate arrangements have been made for the victim
in this case to be dropped off at a different location.
Police are asking anyone who may have seen a
suspicious vehicle in the area of Beekman Street just off of Church Street between 2:30 and 3:30PM on Monday to contact them with any information
they may have. Police are particularly interested in anyone who may have
noticed a vehicle pulled over on the opposite side of the roadway, facing the
wrong direction during those hours. In addition police are asking any
other children who may have been approached in a similar manner to contact them.
School officials and City Police stress that the
victim in this case did exactly the right thing. Upon being approached by
a stranger who attempted to lure him into a vehicle, the victim ran away
immediately and notified his parents of what happened. Police encourage
anyone, particularly school aged children to be aware of their surroundings at
all times, travel together whenever possible and to quickly remove themselves
from any potentially dangerous situation and immediately notify authorities, as
was done in this instance.
Police ask anyone in the area of local schools to
be particularly aware of suspicious people and vehicles and to report any
suspicious activity immediately to the proper authorities.
PRESS HERE TO DOWNLOAD PRESS RELEASE
Released December 1, 2009
Chief Moore Announces
Retirement
Saratoga Springs, NY, Friday, December 1, 2009
– After much deep and careful consideration over the past several weeks, I
have decided to announce today my plans to retire from service with the Saratoga
Springs Police Department. I am doing so for two reasons. First, by retiring,
I hope to allow at least one of the officers currently in danger of being laid
off to keep his or her job. Second, I believe that the next police department
administration should have the opportunity to chart its own course into the
future by making the key operational changes that will be needed in light of
projected police personnel cuts.
Under the current 2010 budget, the police department is scheduled
to lose seven officer positions. My thirty-five good years with this department
have allowed me to raise a family and have a full career. I cannot in good
conscience remain on the job while young officers who are just starting their
families and careers face layoffs, especially in the current economy. The
series of promotions that my retirement will initiate will move at least one of
these officers off the chopping block. It is my sincere hope that my retirement
will save an additional line level police officer position by freeing up revenue
to make additional budgetary adjustments and I urge the City Council to
thoroughly discuss and debate those options before the New Year, when projected
layoffs are scheduled to take effect. Layoffs are always a last resort option
and if there are alternatives to layoffs, it is the duty of the City Council to
give those alternatives fair and full consideration.
The current 2010 budget projects both a 22% loss of patrol staff
and deep cuts in the overtime line. Past experience has shown that when regular
patrol staff drops, the need for overtime peaks in order for the department to
adequately meet its responsibilities to the city. With less regular staff and
less overtime, critical decisions will have to be made regarding the services
that the department is able to provide in 2010. Those decisions will likely
impact the department’s ability to conduct training, maintain the accustomed
level of Traffic Safety Unit services, manage the Investigation Division
workload, offer the DARE & School Resource Officer programs and adequately staff
the large special events that occur in our city annually, including the
Victorian Streetwalk, Hats Off, First Night and the extended 40-day thoroughbred
racing meet. The new Chief and police department administration will be
responsible for providing these services, and I believe it is only fair that I
should step aside and allow them to make those important decisions and provide a
well formulated plan to the incoming Commissioner.
The decision to retire has been a difficult
one for me personally, but I believe it is the right thing to do for the police
department. I first began working here in June of 1974 when I was nineteen
years old. It has been a great privilege serving the citizens of our city in a
variety of roles over those years, with the last six and a half years as Chief.
I believe we have one of the safest cities in the state. I credit the men and
women of the police department as the primary reason. It has been my life’s
pleasure to serve with them and my life’s honor to lead them. I thank all of
them for their dedicated and professional service, and give them my highest
respect. The citizens of our city also have my deepest gratitude for their many
years of cooperation in helping to maintain the level of safety through their
willingness to interact with us as our partners. That partnership will be so
much more important in the coming years as we face reductions in our police
staff. Finally, I wish the new City Council and the new police administration
the very best as they endeavor through these tough economic times. This city is
my home and my family’s home, and I am deeply concerned about its future with
respect to its public safety, fiscal and governmental well-being. Our future
depends upon the willingness of our leaders to discuss the issues openly and
honestly, their ability to cooperate in the face of challenges and their
inclusion of the city’s professional department heads in the decision making
process.
Announcements
