Administrators meet with police chief; new officer sworn in

MALONE — The village police chief met with trustees Wednesday afternoon to discuss purchasing a tactical vest, sending an officer for training to Ogdensburg and swearing in a new police officer.

Police Chief William T. Andre said the village has federal forfeiture funds to cover the cost of the tactical vest that will go to Officer Jordan LaVigne.

Andre said LaVigne, a village police officer, is a member of the Tri County Special Response Team.

Andre said the tactical vests differ from the vests worn daily by village police, which are designed for small arms fire.

The cost of the tactical vest is $3,455.11, according to Mayor Andrea M. Dumas.

“We have a police officer who is on the Tri-County team,” Dumas said.

According to Andre, Tri-County helps local police departments execute high-risk search warrants.

“Basically, when we think someone may have a firearm,” he said, “obviously in a situation like that, you want to survive if you’re being targeted. Our vests are rated for small arms fire and the ones that entry teams use are rated for more than just small arms fire. They’re for situations where they’re entering an apartment or any type of building and may encounter resistance as they enter.”

Andre said the tactical vest would be the property of the village police.

“It has ceramic coating on the front, back and sides,” he said.

After hearing from the police chief, trustees voted to use the forfeited funds to purchase a tactical vest.

Andre said that after Ashley Rule left the village police to join the state police, the department no longer had a car seat technician.

Trustees voted to send Andrew Hanna to training in Ogdensburg in August to become certified as a car seat technician.

Trustee C. Archie McKee asked if Hanna would be able to train other village officers after attending the training.

“He would be the only one certified to do it,” Andre said. “It’s not a situation where it’s about training coaches. He would be the only one certified to do so. People frequently come to the police department either to have a car seat installed or to make sure their car seat fits properly.

Dumas asked what time in August the training would take place to avoid conflict with the Franklin County Fair.

Andre said the training would last four days and take place after the county fair.

“I think it’s a good program and it’s a good opportunity to do some positive outreach to people in the village,” he said.

Andre said it costs $95 to participate in the program.

Later in the meeting, Jacob Prue, who joined the village police force from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, was sworn in by Village Clerk Rebahka Scaccia at Wednesday’s meeting.