The Chief of Police handles the day-to-day operations of the Police Department. He is primarily responsible for the overall management and direction of the police department, which includes five sections; the Patrol Section; the Communications Section; Detective Section; Administrative Section and Dog Control Section. In addition, the Chief of Police is responsible for liaison with other Town departments, elected Town Officials, government and private sector agencies, and various community and neighborhood organizations.
The Glenville Police Department serves a population of approximately 21,000 and covers 50 square miles of territory. The department is comprised of 26 sworn officers, 11 dispatchers, 2 secretaries and 1 dog control officer. The department received over 14,000 calls for service last year.
History Of Police Service In The Town Of Glenville
1821- Town of Glenville legally created and 4 Constables appointed.
1917 - NY State Police created. Troopers on horseback began occasional patrol of the Town from their headquarters in Troy.
1920 - Sheriff's Deputies began occasional patrol of the Town.
1946 - Constables renamed part-time police officers.
1950 - NY State Police opened a patrol station in the Mayfair area.
1951 - Howard E. Pitcher was appointed as the first full-time Glenville Police Officer.
1963 - NY State Police closed the Mayfair patrol station, but continued the occasional patrol of Glenville from their Saratoga station.
1967 - A special committee appointed by the Town Board recommended that a large, full service agency be developed through steady employment of full-time officers, augmented first by part-time personnel.
1968 - Twenty former Deputy Sheriff's were appointed as part-time officers.
1971 - The first two full-time officers from today's force were employed; Jack G. Purdy and Daniel M. Moffett.
1973 - The Town Board met with over 1,000 residents concerned by the lack of police services, high crime rate, and they promised to develop a more effective level of police services.
1976 - After increasing the number of full-time officers to six, William C. Przybylek was employed as the first full-time Chief of Police, along with two more officers.
1978 - As the full-time force grew to fourteen officers, the use of part-time officers was phased out. The first civilian Communications Dispatchers were employed to free officers for on-street duties.
1992 - Jack G. Purdy was appointed as Chief of Police.
1993 - The department instituted the D.A.R.E. program in both school districts.
1993 - The Communications Staff was enlarged to nine dispatchers when the department became part of the County Wide E-911 telephone system and began dispatch services for the Scotia Police Department and eight volunteer fire departments.
2000 - Departmental expansion has continued over the years to the point where thirty-six full-time and one part-time personnel are on the payroll.
Glenville Police Department Notable Accomplishments
* First agency in the Capital District Region to replace sworn police officers with civilian dispatch personnel.
* First agency in the area to install a network of microcomputers to perform police administrative functions.
* First agency in the region to implement a system for management of criminal investigations through employment of "solvability factors", resulting in productive follow-up efforts.
* First agency in the area to implement the "Neighborhood Watch" crime prevention program.
* First agency in the region to install computer based radio communications in the 800-megahertz frequency range.
* First agency in the region to transition officers from the traditional police revolver to new semi-automatic pistols.
* First agency in New York State to install the Law Enforcement Television Network satellite training system.
Summary of Special Local Services Provided
* House Check Program - for vacationing residents (Over 6,300 checks in 2003)
* Special Attention Program - for specific recurring problems reported to police by residents. (Over 4,800 checks in 2003)
* Bicycle Registration Program - for coordinated bike registration and safety classes at schools, rodeos, etc)
* Operation ID Program - for registration of valuable property, a nationwide program.
* Multiple Youth and Senior Citizen Community Crime Prevention Programs such as Patch the Pony, Babysitter Safety Course, Fingerprinting of Children, and Safety for Seniors, Burglary Prevention Seminars for home and businesses, etc.
* Availability of off-duty police officers to police school and community events and keep the peace, with costs borne by the direct users.
* Modern, state of the art, public safety communications center staffed by trained civilian dispatchers and providing uninterrupted service for the distribution of calls for service.
* Modern, centrally located facility for convenient access by residents.
* Availability of trained officers specifically familiar with only this community on a regular basis, not subject to assignment in other areas.
* Dog Control Officers assigned to multiple shifts seven days weekly.
* Specialized joint traffic engineering and enforcement programs.
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