Special Police, City Ending Relationship

By ANNE HOLLIDAY
WESB/WBRR News Director

The Special Police won’t be working in Bradford as we know them anymore.

Mayor Tom Riel made an announcement during Tuesday’s City Council meeting saying, effective immediately, the city and Special Police no longer have a working relationship. City solicitor and city police chief Chris Lucco spoke with the media after the meeting to explain.

Hollenbeck said after a question from a citizen he dug into the history of the organization as well as state law and “couldn’t find anything that made us comfortable” with continuing to use them.

State codes say that having auxiliary police is OK, but they can only be used in emergency or disaster situations not, for example, to direct traffic during parades.

The state also allows Special Fire Police, but they are connected to volunteer fire departments.

Hollenbeck stressed that the Special Police are not disbanding, but having them work for the police department would be improper.

“They will continue in some capacity,” he said, adding later that they will find a way to reinvent themselves.

Lucco said he and fire chief Chris Angell do have a plan in place to “seamlessly transition” from using the Special Police.

He added that both the police and fire departments depended heavily on Special Police and ending the relationship “was not a decision we made lightly. … (But) we will adjust accordingly.”

Lucco said the Special Police have been a benefit to the entire community, and provided a fabulous service.

“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” he said, adding later that, “We went to great lengths to try to find a way for them to fit in.”

Hollenbeck added, “We worked hard to try to find a way to keep the relationship going. It was just, at the end of the day, too much of a stretch to feel comfortable with any model we could build.”

As for their after school traffic duties, Hollenbeck said that’s not a decision for the city to make and the school district will have to decide what to do about that.

In making the announcement Riel said, “The Special Police have provided an invaluable service to the City of Bradford for many years. They come out at all hours of the night to assist, not just the city, but the school district. … They do a tremendous job for very little reward.”

Pictured, Police Chief Chris Lucco and city solicitor Mark Hollenbeck speak to the media following Tuesday's Bradford City Council meeting.

WESB photo

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