By Curt Peterson
Standard Correspondent
killington — Hiring Brent Howard as their second full-time officer means killington’s police department has doubled in size in just over two years.
Chief Whit Montgomery says this is just one “baby step” in the department’s long-range strategic plan.According to Montgomery, the town employed elected constables as their first law enforcement resource in 1900. As the killington
mountain ski resort grew in size and popularity, the constable system
proved inadequate, and, at then-constable Montgomery’s suggestion, the
select board approved formation of the new killington
Police Department with a budget of $80,000 in 2013. According to a
Vermont Standard article at the time, a rash of burglaries was a major
inspiration for the vote. Montgomery was the department’s first chief
and only full-time officer. Besides Howard and the chief, killington’s force now includes two part-time officers who help out during events and for other special details.
One important benefit of
forming an official police department is the access to state and federal
criminal record databases which constables do not enjoy. This access
allows killington Police Department to check
the criminal records of suspects and arrestees, and the status of
automobile registrations, a valuable tool with so many out-of-towners
present.
The town consists of 54 roads and 3,171 properties. While killington’s
population is less than 900 souls on a slow weekend, Montgomery said,
during ski season as many as 20,000 people occupy the town, just one of
the factors that make policing in a resort town challenging. And the
town is promoting more off-season events, which in turn means more
demands on KPD.
“Assuming staggered
scheduling,” he said, “the ratio of civilians to officers is often
20,000 to one. This puts enormous pressure on manpower and other
resources.”
The Rutland County Sheriff’s Department and the Vermont State Police provide assistance and backup when the need arises.
“Otherwise, because backup can
be more than miles away, the skill and training of the officers is all
we have to rely on in difficult situations,” Montgomery added.
And difficult situations do
arise. The chief said KPD duties have included serving search and arrest
warrants, testifying in court, taking subjects into protective custody,
performing search and rescue operations, handling people who are
resisting arrest, and, yes, car chases.
“The most effective tool an
officer has in many cases,” he said, “is his mouth – knowing how to calm
people down and control potentially dangerous situations is the most
important skill.”
Montgomery believes Officer
Howard has those skills. Howard, who has 10 years’ experience in law
enforcement, responded to a job posting on the town website and was
vetted by Town Manager Seth Webb and the chief. He was hired at a wage
of $18.60 per hour plus benefits, and started Monday November 9.
During his 14-year employment by the town, Montgomery co-organized killington
Search and Rescue, a non-profit agency made up of volunteers who are
skilled and experienced in wilderness search and rescue operations. With
KPD direction the organization assisted neighboring towns and the State
Police. Originally funded through donations and grants, KSAR is now
under the auspices of the fire department.
In its strategic plan KPD
recognizes the importance of community involvement in law enforcement.
Montgomery pointed out the diversity of the vacationing population,
including ages, languages, nationalities and backgrounds. He started a
Neighborhood Watch program, enlisting full-time residents to keep an eye
out for risky situations or suspicious activities.
“At this point the Watch
doesn’t hold regular meetings any more, but citizens keep in regular
touch to report anything they think the police department should be
aware of,” he said.
State and FBI requirements
include separate, locked office space for local police agencies. This
summer KPD moved from an area shared with the Road Department to its own
office on the second floor of the Chamber of Commerce building on Route
4. The office is currently open only Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m. With Howard on board, Montgomery intends to expand the hours
and adhere to more consistency.
As with any contemporary
public agency, KPD has to balance perceived needs with the reality of
finances. Montgomery hasn’t finalized his budget proposal for the
2016-2017 fiscal year yet, but he said he is not requesting any increase
in his own salary, which is $45,726.
Early in the department’s
history the chief suggested a regional law enforcement agency that would
organize the resources and manpower of several municipalities and
counties into one coordinated effort.
“It was a new idea,” he said.
“But it makes sense – we could significantly increase the level of
security and safety for our citizens while reducing costs by eliminating
redundancies, duplications and overlaps. As officers we could be much
more effective and for less taxpayer investment.”
He says a regional force is the logical future for improved local law enforcement at the lowest cost.
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