Narcotics activity continues to be the number one challenge facing law enforcement in the entire Glens Falls region. There is simply no question that the incredible demand for crack cocaine in our area is the number one issue that is adversely affecting our quality of life. During 2002, we continued to see individuals coming to Glens Falls from out of the area specifically to sell crack cocaine. More specifically, we actually arrested 27 individuals from Brooklyn who were here to sell crack. Of those 27 arrested, 19 were on parole in Brooklyn. In addition, three individuals that were in our area were arrested for three separate murders that occurred in New York City. The time has come that we find ourselves making a plea for additional resources so that we can stay ahead of this problem. Our drug arrests soared to an all time high of 310 in 2002. That far out paced the next highest year on record of 178 in 1996.

During the budget process for the 2003 budget the Common Council made the difficult decision to reduce funding for salaries to 31 sworn officers from 33. That constitutes the lowest level of funding for officers in the 28 years I have been serving the citizens of Glens Falls. All of the members of the Glens Falls Police Department perform in outstanding fashion for those we serve. The time has come that two detectives need to be assigned full time to narcotics enforcement. We certainly cannot make that assignment when staffed at 31 police officers. We simply must receive additional funding and I would recommend the department be staffed at our original level of 36 sworn officers.

As in the past, the year 2002 was a successful year for us as we received nearly $27,000 in grants from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC). Captain Joseph Bethel successfully applied for a $10,584 grant for "Project 21" underage drinking enforcement program. Captain Stanley Wood prepared and received a grant for $8,400 for the "Buckle Up New York" seatbelt enforcement effort. Police Officer Steven Huntington, for the second year in a row received a grant for our Child Passenger Safety Seat program, this year receiving $8,000.

Training in 2002 again continued to be a focus for us as we tallied the second highest year on record for total number of hours of training at 6,377 hours total. As a result of our focus on training over the years we can boast the following certified officers: 14 officers are sex offense trained; 9 officers are Child Safety Seat Technicians; we have 7 certified Firearms Instructors; 9 officers are Field Training Officers; 9 officers are certified Evidence Technicians; 11 officers are certified General Topic Instructors; 10 officers are certified Bicycle Patrol Officers. That is an incredible feat for a smaller agency. Our commitment to training ensures that our customers, the people we serve, are receiving the very law enforcement product that can possibly be offered.

For the second year in a row the Police Department has not been budgeted to purchase any patrol cars. The result is that our fleet of eight marked patrol vehicles have dangerously high mileage. It has become a daily challenge just to keep them running. In fact in a recent week there was a time when five of our eight vehicles were not serviceable at all and could not be driven. We need to take some action to remedy this situation.

Our Child Passenger Safety Seat program continues to flourish under the watchful eye of Police Officer Steven Huntington and the rest of the technicians. In 2002 we checked and installed 183 child safety seats. We held four Child Safety Seat Checkpoint events. We also gave away 17 seats to low income families through a grant from the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. We are very pleased that we are able to offer this free service to motorists in the region. There is no question that we are saving lives and making our highways safer.

In 2002 our DOT Truck Safety Inspections continued in cooperation with the New York State Department of Transportation as we inspected 307 commercial motor vehicles. A total of 130 transportation traffic tickets were issued.

The members of the Glens Falls Police Department are an outstanding group of highly motivated, well trained, professional and polite men and women. Literally a week does not go by that some member of our community comments to me on the outstanding service they experienced from one of our fine officers. In fact, during 2002, a total of twenty six letters of commendation were issued to members of the Police Department for outstanding, dedicated service.

We consider it our personal honor to serve the people in our community. We continue to use our customer satisfaction follow-up surveys to demonstrate that we are consistently doing the right thing. We look forward to continuing to improve our quality of service and continue to do the right thing. We gladly serve with knowledge, courage and integrity.

A 19 year old Glens Falls man was arrested for burglary and larceny after an investigation with the New York State Police BCI-Wilton into several burglaries of vacant homes in the area.

We arrested a 24 year old Glens Falls man after an investigation with the New York State Police BCI-Queensbury, United States Secret Service and South Glens Falls Police found he had been counterfeiting currency in the Glens Falls area. He was charged with Forgery in the First Degree.

February of 2002

After a lengthy investigation with the Warren County District Attorney's Office and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, a sixty-three year old Glens Falls business woman was charged with Scheme to Defraud and Grand Larceny for taking more than $100,000 from customers and not giving services in return.

The Drug Task Force executed search warrants in Queensbury and Glens Falls and arrested eleven people for possession and sale of crack cocaine. Ten of those arrested were from Brooklyn, New York. The head of the ring went to trial on the charges and he was convicted and sentenced to twenty-two years in state prison.

The task force also arrested a twenty-two year old Hudson Falls man for selling marihuana. In an unrelated investigation, we arrested a Glens Falls man and his girlfriend for Criminal Nuisance First Degree for allowing their home to be used by others to sell crack.

We arrested a thirty-six year old Glens Falls woman for stealing more than $2,500 in unemployment benefit's that she was not entitled to. She was charged with Grand Larceny in the Forth Degree.

After investigating a report from the Glens Falls Civic Center of a larceny of more than $25,000, we arrested a forty-six year old employee. She was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree, Falsifying Business Records and Defrauding the Government.

March of 2002

After an investigation into the sale of cocaine, ecstasy and steroids at a local gym, the Drug Task Force arrested a thirty-one year old Lake George man for possession of more than ten ounces of cocaine. He was charged with Possession of Cocaine with intent to Distribute. A thirty-six year old Queensbury man was also arrested in this case for possession of ecstasy and steroids.

We arrested an eighty-two year old Glens Falls man after an investigation into a report that he had been sexually abusing a ten year old girl that he was familiar with. He was charged with Sexual Abuse in the First Degree.

April of 2002

After an investigation into the sale of ecstasy in the Glens Falls-Queensbury area with the Drug Task Force we arrested a nineteen year old Lake George man. He was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree.

After an investigation into a report by a twenty year old Glens Falls woman, that she was beaten and stabbed at her boyfriend's home, she was arrested for giving police a false written statement when she admitted that she made up the report.

We arrested a thirty-nine year old Glens Falls man after an acquaintance of his reported that he forcibly raped her. He was charged with First Degree Rape.

We arrested a twenty-four year old South Glens Falls woman after a report from a local grocery store that an employee had taken more than $4,000 in bottle return funds. She was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.

After a nine month investigation into the sale of crack cocaine in the Glens Falls area with the Drug Task Force we arrested twelve men and woman for Conspiracy to Distribute Crack Cocaine. Four of the men were from Albany, Brooklyn and the Bronx. All 12 were prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office.

We arrested a sixteen year old youth from Brooklyn after he sold crack to an undercover Glens Falls Police Officer. He was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Third Degree for having more than one half ounce of crack in his possession when he was arrested.

May of 2002

We charged a thirty-one year old Glens Falls woman Grand Larceny and Forgery after a report by the woman's mother claimed that her daughter taken more than $5,000 from her to support her crack cocaine habit.

After an investigation into a report that a twelve year old girl was molested when she stayed over night at a friends house, we arrested a forty-three year old Glens Falls man for Sexual Abuse and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.

We arrested a forty-four year old Glens Falls woman after an investigation with the Glens Falls Fire Department into a fire at the woman's residence. She was charged with Arson for intentionally starting the fire in her apartment which caused substantial damage.

June of 2002

After an investigation into reports of frequent traffic to an apartment we arrested three Brooklyn men for possessing more than an half an ounce of crack cocaine. After executing a search warrant at the residence we found seventy-six individually wrapped pieces of crack cocaine. We also found that the apartment had audio video surveillance camera's set up with monitor's inside to watch the exterior of the apartment and yard area as well as night vision binocular's. A twenty-three year old Glens Falls woman was charged with Criminal Nuisance in the First Degree and Conspiracy after it was determined thru the investigation, that she had rented the apartment, specifically for the three men to sell crack from.

Also in June, we arrested a Glens Falls man and his girlfriend for Criminal Nuisance in the First Degree and Conspiracy for allowing people from Brooklyn to use their house to sell crack cocaine from.

July of 2002

After an investigation into frequent traffic at an apartment complex by the neighbors, we arrested a forty-nine year old Glens Falls man for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree. The man had been selling crack cocaine out of an apartment that he had been staying at. We also arrested a fifty woman and her forty-two year old roommate for allowing the man to sell crack out of their apartment. They were charged with Criminal Nuisance in the First Degree.

We arrested a twenty-four year old man from Brooklyn for False Personation. He was on parole for Criminal Sale of Cocaine. He was arrested after we stopped a vehicle whose driver is a known crack user near a suspected crack house. The driver was also arrested for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Seventh Degree for possession crack. Another passenger in the vehicle was also arrested when it was found that he had an active warrant for his arrest for Possession of Crack.

The Drug Task Force arrested a forty-two year old Glens Falls man for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance Third Degree after he sold Crack Cocaine to an informant.

We arrested a thirty-nine year old Glens Falls man after an investigation into a suspicious fire at his apartment. He was charged with Second Degree Arson.

August of 2002

After an investigation with the New York State Police and the New York City Police into a shooting in New York City, we arrested a twenty-one year old Brooklyn man for Attempted Murder and Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Third Degree. His twenty year old girlfriend, also from Brooklyn, was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance. They were in possession of crack at the time of their arrests. The investigation showed that they had been staying in the Glens Falls area to avoid police in New York City and were selling crack while they were here.

We arrested a thirty-three year old Lake George man for Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument Second Degree after an investigation into a report that a woman had her pocketbook stolen and someone cashed one of her checks.

A forty-one year old Fort Edward man on parole for burglary was arrested for Burglary in the Third Degree after an investigation into a burglary to a local business. During the investigation the man's fingerprints were found at the scene.

September of 2002

A twenty-three year old Glens Falls man was charged with Rape in the Third Degree and Unlawfully Dealing with a Child in the First Degree after an investigation into a report that he had given a sixteen year old female alcohol and then had sex with her.

After an investigation with Warren County Child Protective Services we arrested a twenty-three year old Glens Falls man for punching his seven year old son and causing injury. He was charged with Assault and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The man was employed at the time as a day care provider.

A forty-three year old Glens Falls man on parole was arrested after an investigation into a larceny from a vehicle where a woman's purse containing credit cards were stolen and used. He told police that he used the money to buy crack. He was charged with Grand Larceny Fourth Degree and Forgery Second Degree.

October of 2002

We arrested a sixteen year old Glens Falls youth after an investigation that someone had stolen and cashed some of his parents checks. More than $3,000 was taken. He was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.

After an eleven month investigation into a former Glens Falls business woman defrauding numerous people, a forty-six year old Connecticut woman was arrested. There was more than $20,000 taken. She was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.

A fifty year old Glens Falls woman was also arrested for Grand Larceny in the Third Degree for taking more than $10,000 from an elderly woman she was hired to sit with.

We arrested a thirty-eight year old Glens Falls man after an investigation with New York State Parole, New York State Police and the Warren County Sheriff's Department into a bank robbery at a Glens Falls bank. At the time of his arrest he was on parole, he told police that he used the money to buy crack cocaine. He was charged with Robbery in the First Degree.

We investigated a report of a larceny of more than $3,000 from our Police Benevolent Association with the New York State Police and arrested a forty-one year old Glens Falls man, who once worked for the police department. He was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree.

November of 2002

We executed a search warrant at a house after neighborhood complaints of frequent traffic at the residence. We found more than forty pieces of crack cocaine, more than $1,000 in cash and arrested a twenty year old man from Brooklyn and an eighteen year old man from the Bronx. Both were charged with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Third Degree and Conspiracy. Two Glens Falls women who rented the house were also charged with Conspiracy and Criminal Nuisance for allowing the men to sell crack from the residence. Two other Glens Falls residents were charged with Conspiracy and Loitering after they called the residence while we were there and then came to the house to buy Crack.

December of 2002

We arrested a twenty-two year old Glens Falls man who was on parole. He was arrested after an investigation with New York State Parole and the New York State Police into a report that he was selling marihuana at City Hall when he went there to report to his parole officer. He was charged with Criminal Sale of Marihuana in the Fourth Degree and Violation of Parole.

We arrested a twenty-two year old Glens Falls man, who was formerly from Massachusetts, after an investigation with the New York State Police into the death of his seven week old daughter. The investigation also showed that he had been charged in Massachusetts's with Felony Child Abuse previously, when his eight month old son was found to have numerous broken bones and bruises. He was charged in New York with Second Degree Murder when it was found that his daughter had been suffocated.

We arrested a twenty-two year old Glens Falls man, formerly from Philadelphia, after an investigation with New York State Parole and New York State Police into reports that he had been selling crack out of a local motel. He was charged with Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance Third Degree for selling crack to a confidential informant and with Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree after he was found to be in possession of a large quantity of crack at the time of his arrest. A week later we received more reports of crack sales at the same motel and initiated another investigation. We then arrested a twenty-two year old Albany man for Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance Third Degree when he was found to be in Possession of a large amount of crack. He was also charged with Conspiracy Third Degree and Rape Third Degree when the investigation showed that he had a fifteen year old girl sell crack for him and he was having sex with her.

Finally in December, we investigated several reports of stolen cars and larcenies from cars in the Glens Falls, Queensbury and Lake George area. We arrested an eighteen year old Glens Falls man for stealing six different cars and breaking into numerous others. He was charged with Grand Larceny in the Third Degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Third Degree. Two fifteen year old youths that were with him were petitioned to Warren County Family Court on the same charges. All of the vehicles and thousands of dollars worth of property was recovered.