Mayor James Sottile of the City of Kingston has proposed the layoffs of 11 positions within the City of Kingston Police Department in his proposed 2010 budget. Specifically, the mayor proposes to eliminate 3 full time dispatchers and 8 full time police officers. Sottile's plan would reduce the patrol division by 20%. Despite the reduction, Sottile alleges that the reduction of forces would have no impact on the police services offered to the Kingston community. Mayor Sottile is either misinformed or does not understand the duties and responsibilities of the Kingston Police Department. Over the last three years, the Kingston Police Department has consistently handled over 21,000 calls for service each year. In addition, the police department participates in proactive enforcement duties which places the number of police / community interactions at more than 30,000 per year. The Kingston Police Department makes more arrests than any other agency in Ulster County. This fact is clearly illustrated when you consider about 50% of the Ulster County Jail population is related to arrests that were made by the Kingston Police Department. Should the proposed budget be passed, the overall impact on the services provided by the Kingston Police Department would be drastically reduced. While we understand that these difficult economic times require belts to be tightened, cost cutting decisions should not be at the expense of the safety of the Kingston community. It has been a well known fact that economic troubles often cause crime rates to rise. The fundamental factors that lead to fraud and other crimes include motive, rationalization and opportunity. A poor economy can be a motivating factor to commit a crime. The crimes can be rationalized because of the current economic climate and then there is opportunity. The lack of police presence affords more opportunity for a criminal to commit a crime. In these troubled times, we need more police presence, not less. Mayor Sottile argues that if additional police services were required, Kingston can rely on the New York State Police and the Ulster County Sheriff's Office. However, neither organization has the manpower to address the needs of the City of Kingston. Ulster County and New York State are going through the same economic hardships. In fact, the New York State Police has suspended all new recruit academies due to their financial woes. So we ask Mr. Mayor, where will the manpower come from We ask that you support the City of Kingston community and the Kingston PBA in opposing the proposed police layoffs. Show your support by signing this petition and by calling your local alderman to voice your concerns. The Kingston Police Benevolent Association Wayne C Maisch, President