No More SP Somers? Troopers May Move, Cite Lack Of Space

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Troopers may move 

CHRIS SERICO

THE PATENT TRADER

(Original publication: July 14, 2005)

 

Complaining of cramped conditions, a deteriorating building and a stoppage in property negotiations, state police operating out of the barracks on Route 100 in Somers have begun to look into building a new patrol facility in another town.

"I'd love to stay in Somers, but if it can't be done, we gotta do what we gotta do," Station commander Sgt. Joseph Lutz said.

For the last three years, state police have been looking for a new building, asking for help from the town of Somers. Representatives from the town and state police had been in talks with personnel from IBM, which owns the property, but those negotiations collapsed last fall, according to Supervisor Mary Beth Murphy. Representatives for the three parties involved declined to discuss why the talks broke down.

E-mailing legal notices to regional newspapers June 28, Lutz announced the state police's search for land to build a new building — in or outside of Somers.

Sunderland Drive resident Stephen Kalayjian has vented his frustrations to Lutz about the possible move and is planning to circulate a petition among residents to find a way to keep them in town.

"When you look at the magnitude and size of Somers, having this facility is just a significant loss if it goes to another town," Kalayjian said. "This is a phenomenal agency. It's for the betterment of the people of the town. Why give them up? It's like giving up home-field advantage in the World Series."

In 1973, the same year construction finished on the barracks, women were authorized to work as state troopers, Lutz said. When women state troopers began to report to work in Somers a few years later, police converted a bunk room into a second locker room due to a lack of space, Lutz said.

In subsequent years, space at the Route 100 facility became a growing concern. Thirty-two years ago, 15 troopers used the building; now the staff of about 40 tries to provide Somers and surrounding communities with the resources they've relied on for homicides, fingerprinting or just the use of the bathroom.

"The place really hasn't been updated or renovated since 1973 and the building can't handle the amount of traffic that comes through on a daily basis," Lutz said July 10. "We need to make a move quickly because we're falling apart here.…It's an embarrassment, almost, at this point to operate out of this building."

Troopers often bump into one another in the 2,500-square foot building and investigative work is difficult to coordinate because only so many rooms can be used at one time, Lutz said.

As a result, state police developed renderings of a proposed 6,000-square-foot facility that would include space for personnel, vehicles, showers, locker rooms, evidence, weapons and storage. The design's focus is on the floor plan and the exterior of the facility is almost inconsequential, Lutz said.

"We just need a lot of room so that when 10 guys are working at the same time, they can do the reports and they can make an arrest and they can secure people safely — all at the same time," he said.

The sergeant estimated that the cost to build the structure would amount to about $1 million. The state plans to lease the new building for 30 years, he said.

In the legal notice, state police asked that prospective sites for a new building be close to state roads or interstate highways in Somers, Lewisboro or North Salem.

"I did receive a couple of inquiries from developers," Lutz said. "I did actually receive a lot of response from local residents (outside of Somers) if we could come to their town, because it is a lot of services we would offer to their town…."

Led by Chief Michael Driscoll, Somers' town police unit comprises 18 part-time officers. They are well aware of the conditions and consequences facing the state troopers, Driscoll said.

"The town police strongly support keeping the state police in the town because we work together very closely on police services," said Driscoll, citing everything from speeding to domestic disputes.

The two Somers police divisions often work in tandem. "The town police supplement state police," Driscoll said. "When we need resources — like when we have a homicide — we depend on the (Bureau of Criminal Investigation) of the state police. For large-scale things, they have the resources that we don't have."

The state police in these barracks primarily cover North Salem, Lewisboro and Pound Ridge, Lutz said. Although Driscoll and Lutz agreed that state police would continue to provide services to Somers if troopers moved, Lutz said proximity makes a difference.

"The service that we provide Somers is better than some of the towns we cover, simply because we're here," Lutz said.

The barracks' location on Route 100, near Route 202, is conducive to residents walking in and filing complaints, comments and requests, Lutz said. A move would impact that convenience for Somers residents, he said.

Driscoll said he did not believe Somers would convert the town police unit into a full-time force if state troopers move to another municipality.

After town talks with IBM ended abruptly, Murphy said the town is speaking with another property owner to discuss the prospect of constructing a new state police building.

"I'm definitely in favor of keeping state police in Somers," Murphy said July 11.

In 2003, state police asked Somers to help find a way to pay for a new state police building on the IBM property and allow the state to enter into a long-term lease agreement with the town.

At the start of those talks, Lutz said, state police tried to convince IBM to sell the 2-acre property to the town with the understanding that Somers would renovate the existing building and construct a new facility for the state cops. In the last few months before the talks stalled, the plan was reduced to the construction of a new building.

"We had spoken to IBM for quite a length of time about purchasing the existing site that the state police barracks is on now and building a new building on that site," Murphy said July 11. "We were advised sometime at the beginning of the year that they were not interested in doing anything with that property (for state police)."

Murphy said the discussions became more complicated because several Town Board members, including Paul Meyer and Lynette Burns, weighed in on the matter and other town groups, such as the Open Space Committee and fire department, had their own intentions for that land.

"There were a lot of people who played a role in their relationship with IBM and were involved in the process," she said.

Flor Estévez, a spokeswoman for IBM, acknowledged the talks but chose not to cite reasons for their abrupt conclusion.

"IBM could not accommodate the need for additional space at this time," Estévez said July 12.

Lutz said residents are starting to find out about the possibility of relocation. "I think if taxpayers realize that if the state police in Somers might have to pull out, it might hit home," he said.

It's already hitting home for Kalayjian, who is encouraging his fellow residents to speak up about this issue at Town Board meetings. As of July 11, the topic was a "New Business" agenda item for the July 14 Town Board meeting.

"I don't even know if the people of this town know what's going on," he said. "Stop the nonsense. Let's keep them here. Let's build a 21st-century updated facility.

"It would be a tragedy to lose them. I'm going to do everything I can to keep them here. This is about what's right for the town. Even contemplating them leaving would be a gigantic mistake."

 

[JM15 386]

One of the worst things that the town of Somers could do right now woulde be to lose the state Police. They are a valuable asset and resource to the town and its citizens

[JimE119 0]

I can attest that Somers needs to keep the New York State Troopers Barracks. I work with these Troopers on a daily basis in my line of work and the value of investigation and protection cannot be matched. Somers you have to work hard not lose them.

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How can you have trouble finding property in Somers for a police barracks??? They have such an easy time finding land to subdevelop.

SP Somers is a busy barracks, and needs to stay that....SP Somers