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Thursday, July 10, 2014
BY SCOTT LEFFLER
scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com
An offer by the Lockport Police Department to handle the administrative duties of the city's Department of Youth & Recreation has support from some key city officials — and the program director at the department.
Lockport Community Policing Aide Mark Sanders says the idea was a group concept designed by himself, LPD Capt. Doug Haak and Chief Larry Eggert as a means of helping the cash-strapped city.
Plus, he said, the department is kind of out there on its own."They don't fall under anyone right now, except the mayor."
Sanders feels the same, saying this morning from his office in City Hall that he, Haak and Eggert all have personal reasons for wanting to see the department survive: Kids.
"Between Larry, Doug and myself, we're all fathers. We all have kids," Sander said. "I have teenage kids myself. So we also have a vested interest."
Pat Schrader, 4th Ward alderman, said he likes the idea — especially if it really doesn't cost the city any extra money.
"Melissa (Junke) was doing good. But hopefully this will do even better," Schrader said, adding that Haak and Sanders have a good track record of working with youth in the community.
Alderman-At-Large Joe Kibler agreed.
"It sounds like a pretty good idea to me right now," he said. "We're going to have to work a few things out though."
Kibler said giving the police a presence at the Youth Department's Altro Park office may help to deter crime in the city by giving kids a place to go talk to police other than the police department itself, which may be imposing.
"I'm going to recommend it," Kibler said.
Sanders said the idea of giving kids a safe place to vent concerns and talk to police is an added benefit of the plan that could pay large dividends in the long run.
"A lot of the kids that participate with our parks program? Sometimes we're dealing with their parents. If we can influence this generation, to me, is less involvement that they will have when they're older," he said. "Might change a little bit of the complexion of the city."
To anyone who might suggest that the proposal is Big Brother or indoctrinating the city's youth, Sanders said, "This proposal is not to put a big shield over the building and make this a police organization. It's still Lockport Youth & Rec. This is administration. So it's not like we'll be turning everybody into little cadets. ... as far as programming, we're not going to change any of that."
As for when LPD could take over?
"We can really go immediately," Sanders said. They just need the go ahead from the city's elected officials.
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scott.leffler@eastniagarapost.com
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City residents listen as Community Policing Aide Mark Sanders talks during
a meeting on crime in the city on June 24. To Sanders' right are Capt. Doug
Haak and Capt. Mike Niethe. LPD is offering to take over the administration
of the city's Youth & Recreation Department. (ENP FILE PHOTO)
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Lockport Community Policing Aide Mark Sanders says the idea was a group concept designed by himself, LPD Capt. Doug Haak and Chief Larry Eggert as a means of helping the cash-strapped city.
Plus, he said, the department is kind of out there on its own."They don't fall under anyone right now, except the mayor."
Under the proposal he laid out Wednesday to the Common Council, reorganization would put the department under Eggert with Haak and the Youth board under him. Sanders would serve under Haak and Youth Program Director Andrew Nemi would serve under Sanders — on paper at least.
Nemi said this afternoon that he's in favor of the proposal.
"He'd just like to make my job easier by taking care of the administrative aspect ... so I could just concentrate on the programs," Nemi said. "I think it's a good idea. We could use some more attention over here."
Nemi admitted that he's had some concerns about the future of the department, which has existed in relative limbo since former Youth & Recreation Director Melissa Junke left on disability after falling on a patch of ice — then became embroiled in an investigation over her use of city credit cards for a department fundraiser that she says was authorized by the Common Council. While she was still out on disability, the city eliminated her position.
"I just want to make the programs continue to run," Nemi said. "Whatever we can do to keep the program going, I'm all for."
Nemi admitted that he's had some concerns about the future of the department, which has existed in relative limbo since former Youth & Recreation Director Melissa Junke left on disability after falling on a patch of ice — then became embroiled in an investigation over her use of city credit cards for a department fundraiser that she says was authorized by the Common Council. While she was still out on disability, the city eliminated her position.
"I just want to make the programs continue to run," Nemi said. "Whatever we can do to keep the program going, I'm all for."
Sanders feels the same, saying this morning from his office in City Hall that he, Haak and Eggert all have personal reasons for wanting to see the department survive: Kids.
"Between Larry, Doug and myself, we're all fathers. We all have kids," Sander said. "I have teenage kids myself. So we also have a vested interest."
"Melissa (Junke) was doing good. But hopefully this will do even better," Schrader said, adding that Haak and Sanders have a good track record of working with youth in the community.
"It sounds like a pretty good idea to me right now," he said. "We're going to have to work a few things out though."
"I'm going to recommend it," Kibler said.
Sanders said the idea of giving kids a safe place to vent concerns and talk to police is an added benefit of the plan that could pay large dividends in the long run.
"A lot of the kids that participate with our parks program? Sometimes we're dealing with their parents. If we can influence this generation, to me, is less involvement that they will have when they're older," he said. "Might change a little bit of the complexion of the city."
To anyone who might suggest that the proposal is Big Brother or indoctrinating the city's youth, Sanders said, "This proposal is not to put a big shield over the building and make this a police organization. It's still Lockport Youth & Rec. This is administration. So it's not like we'll be turning everybody into little cadets. ... as far as programming, we're not going to change any of that."
As for when LPD could take over?
"We can really go immediately," Sanders said. They just need the go ahead from the city's elected officials.
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