City Council President Charlie Mallow said in a Daily News article today that the consolidation of dispatch services "handicaps our police a bit." Council OK'ed consolidation Monday, and the county legislature will vote on it tonight.

[Harriet] Scopano, a senior citizen, felt safer with someone at the station around the clock. Mallow, City Council president, said the city would lose its small-town appeal and become more like his native crime-ridden Buffalo.

Now that the station at 10 W. Main St. will close for nights and weekends, both of them feel the same, they said.

That just doesn't sound right.

Moving the dispatchers 1.7 miles away will make Batavia like "a crime-ridden Buffalo"? That just doesn't sound right. Scopano is quoted later on in the article as saying that "we'll have to watch ourselves, especially in the parking lot." It doesn't seem reasonable to suggest that just because dispatchers will no longer occupy the facility at all hours that the parking lot outside of headquarters will become more of a risk for violent crime. Heck, there's hardly any violent crime in Batavia as it is. It's one of the reasons why Batavia is a better place to live than, say, Buffalo. Do we really believe that criminals will now congregate outside the police station?

Police Chief Randy Baker makes a good point.

"For citizens, you're not going to see much of a change. We locked the doors after hours anyway for dispatchers to let (visitors) in," he said. "If someone is in immediate danger, they can go to the lobby at the jail. That's a manned area. They've always had that."

Don't people just call 911 when they're in trouble? Who goes to the police station? We call the police. They come to us if we're in trouble. That's why they've got the fast cars with the loud sirens and the bright flashing lights.

City officers are certain to shift their perspectives to go along with the changes, Mallow said. "They're going to do what they need to do to protect the citizens," he said.

Exactly. Especially since what they do won't change. Nor will what the dispatchers do change. The only thing that will change, really, is that when you call the police for an emergency, they'll pick up your phone a mile and a half away from where they did it before.

Katelyn M. Pawliske, 21, of Eden, was charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol early Sunday morning, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Pawliske drove into the rear of a vehicle stopped in traffic on Route 77 in the town of Darien after she had exited the concert at Darien Lake. She was also ticketed with following too closely.

Jeffrey M. Brodsky, 37, of Covington, was charged with a felony county of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Friday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Members of the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force allegedly found over a half ounce of crack cocaine on Brodsky when they searched his home and his vehicle last week. About a quarter pound of marijuana, some powder cocaine, more crack cocaine, other illegal substances, illegal weapons and several pieces of drug paraphernalia were also allegedly found at Brodsky's home.

Darrell G. Plichta, 21, of Oneida, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana Wednesday, August 20, sheriff's deputies said. Plichta was stopped on Route 89 in the city of Batavia. He was also ticketed with moving from the lane unsafely.

Conor P. Wilkes, 20, of 8303 Lewiston Road, Batavia, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana Saturday, sheriff's deputies said. Wilkes had been stopped on Route 5 in Batavia for an alleged traffic violation.

Brandy L. Hamill, 34, of Depew, and Jeffrey D. Nicosia, 29, of Corfu, were charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance bu ultimate users not in original containers Tuesday, August 19, sheriff's deputies said. Hamill and Nicosia had been stopped on Route 77 in Pembroke for an alleged traffic violation.

David J. Roma, 25, of Cheektowaga, was charged with exposure Friday, sheriff's deputies said. Roma allegedly urinated on the seats in front of him at the concert at Darien Lake that night. He was sent to Genesee County Jail in lieu of $500 bail.

Steven C. Brooks, 21, of Amherst, was charged with third-degree unauthorized use of a vehicle Friday night, sheriff's deputies said. Brooks allegedly took a golf cart owned by Darien Lake, drove it into a parked car and fled the scene. He was also ticketed with leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

John H. Lobaugh, 30, of Kenmore, was charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and second-degree harassment Saturday, sheriff's deputies said. Lobaugh allegedly got into a fight with his girlfriend in Pembroke following the concert at Darien Lake and pushed her down an embankment where she landed in a ditch and struck her head on a rock. When she tried to call 911, he allegedly grabbed her phone and threw it away causing damage to the phone, too. She refused medical treatment.

Kenneth J. Anderson, 35, of Brockport, was charged with driving while intoxicated Saturday, sheriff's deputies said. Anderson was stopped on Route 33 in the city of Batavia for an alleged traffic violation.

Carlton K. Stewart, 64, of Basom, was charged with a felony count of driving while intoxicated Sunday, sheriff's deputies said. Stewart was stopped on West Main Street Road in the town of Batavia. He was also charged with consumption of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.

Eric M. Lawrence, 17, and Phillip E. Garrett, 27, both of Amherst, were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana Firday, sheriff's deputies said. Garrett was driving the vehicle that was stopped on Route 77 in Corfu. Deputies found that his license was suspended. Garrett was also charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operator and operation with a suspended registration.

Raymond D. Scott, 43, of Wyoming, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana Friday, sheriff's deputies said. Scott was stopped at a DWI road check on Route 33 in the city of Batavia. Deputies then discovered that his license was suspended. He was also charged with aggravated unlicensed operator and operation with a suspended registration.

Brandon C. Dodd, of 3 Maple St. (Apt: Lower), Batavia, was charged with driving while intoxicated Tuesday night, city police said. Dodd was stopped after he allegedly drove through a red light. He was also ticketed with passing a red light.

Roy D. Hooten, 47, of Oakfield, was charged with two felony counts of fourth-degree grand larceny and one misdemeanor county of petit larceny Tuesday, sheriff's deputies said. Hooten was arrested at his home and sent to the Genesee County Jail in lieu of $1,500 cash bail. Hooten is alleged to have stolen copper grounding wires and other scrap metal on at least seven occasions from three sub-stations on Maple Avenue in Oakfield over the course of nine months. Further charges are pending.

All of the above arrests were issued in published releases from the various departments.

Starting on September 1, the Batavia police station at 10 W. Main St. will only be open to the public from 8:30am to 4:30pm. A desk clerk will be on hand during those hours. A call box will be set up outside the station to contact dispatch at the Genesee County Sheriff's Office on Park Road. City police has also opened a new non-emergency number and for contacting police personnel: (585) 345-6444.

Derrick G. Ryzner, 19, of Pennsylvania, was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana Tuesday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Deputies had responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint when they allegedly found the drugs in Ryzner's vehicle.

A couple's complaint about a stolen bank card and an account robbed of its funds led to charges against the couple themselves, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Twenty-five-year-old Jennifer and 23-year-old Christopher Cummings, both of Pavilion, were charged with third-degree falsely reporting an incident. After reporting the theft of bank card and money, deputies discovered that the two had allegedly taken their own money out of the bank and reported it stolen.

Police in Le Roy are looking for anyone with information about an apparent break in at the Little League concession stand in the village, according to WBTA. At some point over the past few nights, someone had forced open the door and got inside. Anyone with information should call (585) 768-2527.

Assemblyman Steve Hawley told WBTA's Dan Fischer that most of the $450 million that the state legislature recently agreed to cut from its spending are "un-spent member items, the so-called pork that legislators use to win points with their local constituents." (Quote from Fischer.)

Several members of the Batavia police department were recently rewarded with certificates of commendation for exemplary police service for their involvement in major cases.

Officer Frank Klimjack responded to a residential fire at 6 Pringle Ave. in September, 2006. On scene, Klimjack helped two children and their mother to safety, then directed fire and ambulance crews to the scene to save a child trapped in the residence.

Detectives Todd Crossett and Richard Schauf were commended for their participation in an investigation that started in June, 2007, and continues today that has led to the arrest of four men, so far, who were soliciting minors for sexual encounters on the Internet.

Detective Sgt. Patrick Corona, detectives Charles Dudek, Paul Caffo, Todd Crossett, Richard Schauf and officers Kevin Czora and John Peck were commended for their rapid apprehension of suspects and subsequent investigation and processing of evidence in the murder of Desean Gooch in October, 2006.

Officer Eric Hill, detectives Charles Dudek and Paul Caffo, Detective Sgt. Patrick Corona and Lt. James Henning were commended for their apprehension of a suspect in the robbery of Key Bank on Main Street. That arrest led to the confession by the suspect to several other bank robberies, including one in Rochester that had resulted in the incarceration of an innocent man.

Detectives Richard Schauf and Charles Dudek were commended for their investigation that led to the arrest earlier this year of the infamous Pillow Case Burglar.

In the photo above (from left): Det. Sgt. Patrick Corona, Det. Charles Dudek, Lt. James Henning, Officer Wayne Fenton, Det. Schauf and Officer Eric Hill.

A Batavia detective will become a full-time member of the Genesee County Drug Task Force, according to the Daily News. This marks the first time since 2002 that a member of the city force joined up full-time on the multi-agency task force. Police Chief Randy Baker said he hopes the group will continue its focus on "the big guy," as well as the "smaller concerns of neighborhoods." At least, that's what I think he says. Here's the full quote, from reporter Scott DeSmit:

"We met and we wanted to refocus our efforts ... They were doing long-term investigations, focusing on getting the big guy rather than addressing the smaller concerns of neighborhoods. That's all tied together and that's what we're doing."

It's not clear if the chief is saying that the task force was concentrated on the big guy and now they will focus more on smaller concerns, or my interpretation up above. I phoned the chief to clear up the ambiguity. He was unavailable. I left a message.

UPDATE: Chief Baker did get back to me this afternoon to confirm that the second interpretation is correct, that the task force will do more to address the "smaller concerns."

Plans for the soon-to-be-built Sallome's Deli on Oak Street—check out their job listing on our site—were approved by the city planning board last night following a brief debate over the number of signs to be allowed. There's no mention of when the deli will open at 34 Oak St., but the hours will likely be from 8:00am to 8:00pm six days a week.

Richard J. Peters II, 18, of Batavia, was sentenced to 11 1/2 years in state prison for the rape of a four-year-old girl. Wyoming County Judge Mark H. Dadd added 20 years of post-release supervision. Peters could have faced up to 25 years in prison for pleading guilty to a felony county of first-degree rape and a felony count of first-degree criminal sex act.

As the wrecking ball gets set to smash Le Roy's historic Masonic Temple to the ground, Genesee County's Economic Development Center gets set to give Walgreens $122,375 in tax exemptions. The temple, a few neighboring retail spaces and a couple of homes around the corner are all being torn down to make way for the pharmacy chain.

Batavia's town planning board has determined that the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park will have a "significant impact on the environment." A public hearing has been set for 7:00pm on September 16 at the town hall, 3833 West Main Street Road, for residents to hear about the impact and voice their opinions on the project. "The potential effects of constructing the Ag Park," writes Paul Mrozek, "include increased noise, odor and traffic and converting 200 acres of vacant land into an industrial park."

The Batavia city police department may have an interruption in its non-emergency phone service (for line 345-6350) beginning Thursday morning at about 9:00am and lasting throughout the day. Crews are working to reroute the line to the 911 dispatch center located at the county sheriff's office on Park Road in anitcipation of the consolidation. Once the switchover is complete, calls to that number will go simultaneously to the Batavia police station and the sheriff's dispatch. If anyone has problems calling 345-6350 any time tomorrow, they are asked to use the new administrative number for the city police at 345-6444. It should be noted that all emergency calls should still go through 911.

Genesee County sheriff's deputies were kept busy at last night's concert at Darien Lake. (Not that that should come as much of a surprise. It was the "Rockstar Energy Mayhem Concert," after all. Oh the capacities for loud rock to incite unsublimated aggressions!)

And aggressions there were aplenty: four charges of disorderly conduct, five charges of harassment, and one attempted assault on a police officer. One trespass, eight charges of underage possession of alcohol, one charge of unlawful possession of marijuana and three more of criminal possession of marijuana round out the list.

Jeremy P. Telvock, 32, of Auburn, is accused of attacking a sheriff's deputy while being escorted out of the venue. Telvock was charged with attempted assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and second-degree harassment. He was sent to Genesee County jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.

David M. Collandra, 23, of Renssalaer, was charged with trespass and sent to the jail in lieu of $500 bail. Collandra allegedly refused to leave the property.

The following were charged with disorderly conduct: Simon B. Gilly, 19, of Rochester; Patrick J. Brink, 34, of Auburn; Christopher R. Smith, 22, of Rochester; and Amy L. Sink, 32, of Yorkshire. Gilly and Brink were both sent to the jail in lieu of $500 bail.

The following were charged with second-degree harassment: Michael B. Mustillo, 26, of Depew; John D. Drexler, 42, of Webster; Thomas E. Leith, 20, of Gowanda; and Andrew D. Schoff, 25, of Brockport.

An East Amherst woman died yesterday after she was struck by a vehicle, state police said. Maureen P. Micks, 73, was attempting to cross Transit Road in the town of Clarence when she was hit. David E. Militello, 41, of East Amherst, was making a left turn onto Transit Road from North French Road when he say Micks crossing. He was unable to stop in time. Micks was taken to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital where she was later prnounced dead as a result of the collision.

Anyone who may have witnessed the accident should contact the state police in Clarence at (716) 759-6831.

A multi-agency enforcement detail including Genesee County sheriff's deputies and city police officers set up in the south-east section of the city Thursday. twenty uniform traffic tickets were issued. Five people were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana: John P. Wittkopp, 25, of 124 Osterhaut Ave.; Robert K. Neaman, 20, of Bethany; Elliott Hickman, 17, of 26 Ganson Ave.; Derek McQueen, 21, of Corfu; and Keesta Z. Skellon, 30, of 665 Ellicott St., who was also charged with trespass. Willie J. Shannon, 52, of 101 Harvester Ave., was also charged with trespass. Jerad M. Stalker, 24, of Alexander, was charged with possession of a hypodermic needle.

Leroy S. Crandall Jr., 61, of Corfu, was charged with driving while intoxicated Saturday following a traffic stop on Alleghany Road in Corfu, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. He was also ticketed with improper left turn.

David L. Good, 21, and Eric A. Ernestine, 18, both of Liverpool, were charged with disorderly conduct Sunday night after they were evicted from Darien Lake, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Good and Ernestine allegedly cursing at the security guards while being escorted out of the park. Good was also charged with two counts of second-degree harassment. Deputies were told that he pushed the security guards and resisted arrest.

Adam M. Zastrocky, 24, of Bergen, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Saturday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Zastrocky was observed "acting suspiciously" in a parking lot in the village. With him was Edward W. Zastrow, 27, of Bergen, who was charged with public lewdness. Zastrow was allegedly urinating in public.

Brandon C. McCoy, 17, of Kelsey Road, Batavia, and Tara A. Trommetter, 17, of Corfu, were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana Wednesday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said.

David J. Newton, 26, of Rochester, was charged with petit larceny Saturday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Newton was accused of stealing merchandise from a shop in Darien Lake.

Bobby L. Mobley, 49, of 8 Central Ave., Batavia, was charged with second-degree criminal contempt Saturday night, city police said. Mobley is accused of violating an order of protection.

Robert J. Kotarski Jr., 39, of Alabama, was charged with a felony county of criminal sexual act in the second degree Wednesday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said.

Kotarski is accused of performing oral sex on a female under the age of 15 on five separate occasions between 2005 and 2006. He was released under the supervision of Genesee Justice and will reappear at a later date to answer the charges.

Joseph A. Hernick, 59, of Stafford, was charged with second-degree harassment Wedensday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Hernick allegedly punched his neighbor in the head while he was mowing his lawn. An order of protection has been issued on behalf of the victim.

Twenty-one-year-old Joseph J. Alba, of Akron, was charged with petit larceny Monday, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Alba is accused of reaching into a Dip-N-Dot vending stand at Darien Lake and stealing a handful of Dip-N-Dots valued at approximately $1.

All above releases were reported in published releases by the sheriff's office.

Consolidation between the Genesee County Sheriff's Office and the City of Batavia Police should go through by the end of the month, according to the Daily News. The county legislature approved a $76,000 capital project at its meeting last night—$9,926 of that will be paid by the county, the rest covered by a state grant.

In an article by Joanne Beck, City Council President Charlie Mallow says that a question initially posed for the city's board of ethics—does Councilman Bob Bialkowski have a conflict of interest regarding votes on the mall—will now be taken up by the county board of ethics. City Attorney George Van Nest "submitted the matter to the county's board within the last week, Mallow said. However, the county's Clerk of the Legislature Carolyn Pratt says that the county board cannot act "on any issue from a municipality that has already established an ethics board," and the city has its own board. I called Van Nest to ask him if this means that the county board will not hear the matter, but he declined to comment. It was the most simple question I thought to ask, and really beats at the heart of the whole article. If the county board of ethics can't meet to discuss this: first, why is it news? And second, why would Van Nest ask them to meet?

For more fun and informative articles just like these, be sure to get out and pick up your very own copy of the Daily News. Or, better yet, subcribe at BataviaNews.com.

Daily News reporter Scott DeSmit profiles the city police department's new patrol cars in an article on today's front page. His take: they're all about "keeping a low profile." That means no flashy lights on the roof. Why? Officers hope the bare car top will "allow them to blend in more with traffic in an effort to catch violators."

"People engaged in criminal activity or violating traffic laws tend to scan traffic looking for that light bar," Officer Wayne Fenton said. "Taking the light bar away allows the car to blend in with the rest of traffic."

Except, of course, for the flashy lettering and block-letter 'POLICE' decal on the side of the car. For catching drivers who only get that cursory glance over traffic, I suppose it could help fight the speeders on residential streets. The $23,000 cars do come with lights, it should be noted: strobes.

Of course, no slick, pseudo-undercover makeover is going to make a cop's life any easier.

Take their stroll through the junior rapids of Tonawanda Creek this morning in pursuit of an alleged shoplifter. Just shy of 9:00am this morning, police responded to a larceny call at the Sugar Creek Store on West Main Street. On scene, Scott DeSmit tells us, one of the officers "shagged the man from a grove of trees behind the store"—fantastic description. The man then ran into the muddy, burbling Tonawanda Creek. Lt. Eugene Jankowski said the man nearly drowned! But they picked him up and brought him down to headquarters for processing.

What was he accused of stealing? Two beers.

For other fascinating news stories, be sure to pick up your own copy of the Daily News wherever they are sold. Or, better yet, subscribe at BataviaNews.com.

Genesee County sheriff's deputies report that three people were charged with unlawful possession of marijuana in the town of Pembroke Monday. They are: Michelle M. Eleczko, 20, of Corfu; Jennifer L. Wagner, 19, of Akron; and Cassandra M. Martin, 20, of Akron.

Scott M. Florian, 40, 8317 Slusser Road, Batavia, was charged with driving while intoxicated and another count of aggravated DWI Monday night in the town of Pembroke, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Florian was also ticketed with failure to keep right.

Mark C. Johnson, 46, of Oakfield, was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Monday, according to the Genesee County Local Drug Enforcement Task Force. A search of Johnson's residence in June found what was later confirmed to be cocaine.

Debrah A. Butler, 40, of Elba, was charged with two counts of felony falsifying business records and two counts of petit larceny, a misdemeanor, Monday following an investigation into a theft at Elba Yellow Goose, Genesee County sheriff's deputies said. Butler was an employee of the Yellow Goose and is accused of stealing three money orders and allegedly trying to conceal the theft by making false entries in the company business records.

All above incidents were reported in published releases from the departments listed.