There was no dispute at the Village of Oakfield trustee meeting Monday that the village has seen an uptick in crime in recent months.
There was also no clear indication on what trustees, or village residents, think should be done about it.
Mayor Richard Pastecki called the meeting a fact-finding session.
Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble (lower inset photo) attended the meeting to provide information on options from the Genesee County Sheriff's Office -- ranging from a full-time, Oakfield-dedicated deputy to a part-time, extra patrol similar to one used for the Village of Bergen.
"We've had a lot more problems out here, there's no doubt about that," Dibble said. "Over last several months there has been a lot of activity up here, and I don't think that's a surprise to anybody who is here."
About eight village residents attended the meeting.
Jeremy Yasses (top inset photo), one of the chief proponents of increasing Sheriff's patrols in the village, said something needs to be done about the increase in crime and extra patrols make the most sense to him.
"We have a local problem," Yasses said. "We have a big local problem in the village and ignoring it won't make it go away. There is a group in the village that is constantly causing problems."
Heroin, Yasses said, is a big part of the local crime problem.
Yasses said he thinks the only logical solution is an increase in Oakfield-dedicated patrols, and while he stopped short of advocating for a full-time deputy in Oakfield -- like the village had a decade ago -- he did float a proposal to tax village property an extra $36 per year to raise $25,000 for a part-time patrol.
"I’m not looking to raise taxes, but I know, just for me, I’ll give up a few extra coffees per year just to have some extra patrols," Yasses said.
Mike Cianfrini, the Town of Oakfield supervisor, also attended the meeting but said he didn't support spending money on extra patrols.
"I'm adamantly opposed to the idea," Cianfrini said. "Nobody disputes that there is an increase in crime, but this is simply a knee-jerk reaction.
"It’s a feel-good measure," Cianfrini added. "If I thought if it would solve the problem, I’d be the first one sitting with Jeremy saying we’ve got to do this, but bringing in an extra road patrol for four hours a night a couple of days a week, the criminals are just going to go inside. They’re not going to rob a house while a sheriff is right in front of them."
Of course, Dibble said, criminals don't typically commit crimes right in front of a uniformed deputy sitting in a patrol car, but a full-time deputy in Oakfield would certainly have its law-enforcement advantages, Dibble said.
"A deputy could respond in 30 seconds rather than 10 minutes," Dibble said. "I've got to believe that would make a difference."
A shift-dedicated deputy would also know the community better and interact with the community more.
Contrary to a suggestion by Cianfrini that a deputy couldn't -- for Constitutional reasons -- interview more people, Dibble said, "We can talk to anybody any time."
"A good officer can engage a person in conversation and learn a lot," Dibble said. "You would be amazed at what you can discover when you engage people."
Increased patrols would also mean increased traffic tickets, which can lead to the discovery of other crimes, either property crimes or drug crimes.
As for the latest crimes, Dibble said he spoke with Chief Deputy Jerome Brewster about Oakfield on Monday morning.
The recent burglaries and robberies in Oakfield are the subject of active investigations, Dibble said.
"We have several suspects and hopefully we will be able to make some arrests in the next few weeks," Dibble said.
The two burglary suspects arrested in Pavilion over the weekend may have Oakfield ties, Dibble said. Investigators will also look at them as possible suspects for crimes committed in Oakfield.
Pastecki said he remembers what the village was like when he worked in probation and officers made regular arrests in Oafield, but then things improved.
"It has turned into a wonderful village," Pastecki said. "That's why we're looking at whatever we need to do to be proactive and do something to maintain that feeling of security that everybody wants."
