Discussion of police chief position creates confusion

PINE PLAINS ­­— At the end of the town’s organizational meeting on Thursday, Jan. 3, when appointments were made for the coming year, former town Councilman Bob Couse objected to one of the first appointments town Supervisor Brian Coons read from that night’s list.“Herman Haire cannot be appointed as officer in charge,” Couse said of the post akin to other departments’ chief of police. “He is not an officer.”Couse cited the article of law for the Pine Plains Police Department that creates the positions of police officer, officer in charge, police commissioner and police administrator.Coons took issue with the explanation, and pushed to appoint Haire, who was an officer with the Pine Plains Police Department until 2010. His appointment would mean the end of current Officer in Charge Mike Lawson’s tenure, which has lasted nearly a decade.“Why, then, when you were on the board, was there an officer in charge?” Coons asked Couse. Couse said the difference was at that time the officer in charge was a member of the department. But he said there were still options.“The Town Board, by resolution, can appoint one to three police commissioners, who shall serve without compensation, and the Town Board can appoint you [as a board member], or it can appoint three commissioners, or it can appoint two commissioners with one [board member],” Couse said. There was some confusion on the matter, as the supervisor spoke to make a motion.“I vote we make Herman Haire police commissioner, and [Councilman] Jimmy [Jackson] and I can oversee his position at no compensation,” Coons retorted.Couse replied that Haire would also not be compensated.“Then we’ll hire him as a police officer,” Coons said. Couse again said it couldn’t be done, as specific training would be necessary before Haire could qualify.“Herman Haire will become a police administrator then,” Coons said. “There is no such position,” Couse said, contradicting his earlier statement.Councilwoman Sandra David interrupted in the hopes of calming down those involved in the debate.“Why don’t we check with [Attorney to the Town] Warren [Replansky],” she said. “I would like to see Herman there, too.”“I would like to know what’s going on and see a little less arrogance,” said former Councilwoman Dorean Gardner from the audience. “This is the first I’m hearing of this. This is a pretty big change for an officer in charge, and I’m wondering why. I know it’s a personnel matter so you’re not going to share it with me.”“I was trying to save a lot of embarrassment to people in this room,” Coons said.“OK, but as the public I would like to hear information rather than a lot of rumor and innuendo,” Gardner said. “That’s a good point,” Coons replied, inviting Gardner to stop by Town Hall during the weekend for more information.“It’s not like Mike has done a bad job, but there’s a lot of concern around the public and we would like to make a change,” Coons said, referring to letters of complaint from the community.“I have no problem with [what the board is pursuing],” Couse said. “It’s just the placement you’re trying to do is against the law.”At the end of the discussion the board refrained from voting on the officer in charge appointment.After the meeting Coons would not elaborate on the information he promised Gardner, but he did expand on the issue at hand.“The taxpayers want the police force to be gone. We believe in community policing but I don’t think it’s smart to disband the force,” he said. “I want to change it to make it smarter and more trained. Herman is better at getting more people to come in and talk about what they did. “I think it’s good to have an officer in charge who’s an administrator, not an officer,” Coons added. “People look at him differently.”If appointed, Haire would be part time, working a “few hours a week,” according to Coons. He would “not make more than the officers” and would focus on “scheduling, training and developing the force.”By Monday morning the confusion had cleared and Coons confirmed Haire could and would be appointed as officer in charge. The supervisor said he contacted the Dutchess County Personnel Department and confirmed Haire could rejoin the force since he’s only been retired for two years.“Bob Couse was wrong,” Coons said. “There’s a four-year threshold during which an officer can come back and resume his duties. Herman has not even been off the job for two years. And we can call him anything we want to; his role will be officer in charge.”As far as Lawson, Coons said he hopes he’ll remain with the Pine Plains Police Department. Lawson, though, is not making any commitments.“I disagree with the board’s decision. Overall [working in town] has been a good experience; it’s had its ups and downs,” he said, adding that the current situation was causing him to think about looking elsewhere for work. “I’m considering it. I have a good resume, I’ve been an officer since ‘92 and have over 20 years of experience. I have a good rapport with some neighboring departments so I’ll leave it at that.”