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When
the Village of Liverpool was incorporated in 1830, the Village
had two Constables. In 1862, the local peace officer was, for the
first time, given the title "Police Constable", thus allowing the
carrying of weapons and greater authority to make arrests. During
the previous year, a jail, usually termed the ‘lock-up’ or ‘black
hole’, had been built in the area of Tulip and Brow Streets at a
cost of $200. Repairs made to this building in 1910 included
concrete floors in every cell and the addition of another window. In
1929, the black hole became a thing of the past when the
Commissioner of Public Works was authorized to dispose of the
village jail, which had been disbanded by the State Prison
Department in Albany, NY.
In
1869, both the Treasurer and the Police Constable where required to
post bond.
The
first reference to a Police Chief is found in April, 1899 when
Charles Sharrer was appointed Chief Police Constable. At the time,
Maurice Wentworth, Valentine Fischer, Fred Bretzer, John Dietz and
John Myers were appointed Police Constables. Fred Betzer became
Chief Police Constable in 1900. By 1910, "Police Chief" became the
official title.
In
1903, the first equipment allowance was put into effect when the
village authorized the purchase of clubs, belts and whistles for its
force.
Very
little information is recorded from 1928 through 1952.
In
1952 Floyd Harrison was appointed Chief of Police and remained Chief
through 1971.
In
1972, the village appointed Raymond Piper, a ten-year veteran of the
force, as Chief of Police. There were five full time officers,
including a sergeant, and seven part time officers. Each full-time
officer had completed an 18-week course in municipal police training
at Syracuse University or Onondaga Community College.
During that same year, the Police Department had three marked
police vehicles and one unmarked police vehicle. The vehicles were
equipped with first-aid equipment and oxygen, allowing officers to
administer medical care at various types of emergencies. The
Village Police Department became the first department to enter into
a county-wide dispatch system between towns, villages and sheriff's
police agencies. The system is still identified as the Onondaga
County Law Enforcement Information Service [OLEIS]. Chief Piper was
elected as the first Chairman overseeing OLEIS.
The
Liverpool Police Department was headquartered in the Gleason
Mansion, the former residence of a well-to-do villager which in the
late 1930’s was converted into a Village Hall and used by the
village for decades. The Village Clerk’s office was located in the
front of the building, with the Village Board’s meeting room located
in what would be considered a formal living room. The Police
Department was located in the rear of the building, sharing space
with the Justice Court. In later years, the court was moved upstairs
near the custodian's apartment and the Police Department converted
the former courtroom into office space for the sergeant and police
officers. In 1978, the Liverpool Police Department was increased to
seven full-time officers and eight part-time officers. This increase
was financed through grants, which allowed the training and hiring
of police officers at no cost to the village for one year.
In
August of 1984, Chief Raymond Piper retired, and Gerard J Neri, a
seven-year veteran of the force, was appointed as Acting Chief of
Police. Acting Chief Neri was appointed Chief of Police on February
25, 1985. At the age of 25, Chief Neri was the youngest Civil
Service Police Chief in New York State History.
All
police officers receive police academy certification in conjunction
with the department’s field-training program. All officers were
equipped with a departmental issued handgun and received mandatory
firearms training twice a year. A Rules and Regulations manual was
instituted. The department increased to 11 full time officers and 6
part time officers. The department's fleet consisted of 2 unmarked
vehicles, 4 marked vehicles, 1 unmarked van and two motorcycles.
Due
to overcrowding at this location, the Liverpool Police Department –
along with the Justice Court and Village Clerk - moved to the A.V.
Zogg Building at 500 Hickory Street in 1988. This space is owned by
the Liverpool Central School District, and the Village paid rent to
the school district for the use of this building.
In
June 1995, the Liverpool Police Department received New York State
Accreditation.
On
July 24, 1996, the Village of Liverpool and the City of Syracuse
entered into a "Contract for Services". The Village of
Liverpool Police Department was now known as the Syracuse Police
Department, Liverpool District. The Liverpool Police Officers became
Syracuse Police Officers and the Chief became a District Chief of
the Syracuse Police. The New York State Accreditation Council
revoked the Accreditation of the Liverpool Police Department. The
contract for Services was challenged by Village of Liverpool
residents who opposed the Contract.
On
July 1, 1997 Mayor James W. Farrell, Trustee Gary C. White and
Leslie G. Fischer were elected to the Village Board of Trustees. The
newly elected Mayor and Village Board members were supported by
those who opposed the Police Contract with the City of
Syracuse, and began the process to terminate the Contract.
The
Contract was terminated on July 1, 1998 and the Liverpool Police
Department was re-formed. The Village Board of Trustees downsized
the Police Department to the current Department which now consists
of one Chief of Police, one Sergeant, three full time Police
Officers and six Part Time Police Officers.
On
August 12, 1998, Chief Neri retired from the Department.
In
June of 1998, Richard Owens was appointed as Acting Police Chief.
Chief Owens was a retired New York State Police Investigator prior
to his appointment to the Chief of Police position. Chief Owens
began the process of upgrading the Police Department equipment
including the replacement of two 1995 Ford Crown Victoria Police
vehicles. He also obtained new computers for the Department. Chief
Owens resigned from the Police Department in March of 1999.
On
March 15, 1999, Donald L. Morris was appointed as Chief of Police
for the Liverpool Police Department. Chief Morris was a Captain with
the Solvay Police Department prior to his appointment to the Chief
of Police position with the Liverpool Police Department. Chief
Morris has implemented a Bike Patrol, Foot Patrol Program, Watch
Your Car Program, Child Safety Seat Check-ups and restored the
Explorer Post. Chief Morris also re-instated the ‘Officer of the
Year’ program and Department recognition. Chief Morris and Sergeant
Burg completed the updating of the Department Rules and Regulations
by January 01, 2000.
In
October 2000, the Village of Liverpool Offices moved into their
newly renovated building at 310 Sycamore Street. Known as the
Gleason Mansion Carriage House, which previously housed the
Liverpool Fire Department. This new Village Hall is now the home for
the Liverpool Police Department, Village Clerk, and Village Justice
Court.
On
June 14, 2001 the Liverpool Police Department received New York
State Accreditation again.
On October 15, 2007, Chief Morris
retired from the Village of Liverpool Police Department. Michael
Burg was appointed as Acting Chief on October 15, 2007.
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