Orangetown Police Working on Making Events Safer

The Orangetown Police Department traditionally critiques its own work each year after the Rockland County St. Patrick's Day Parade. 

Chief Kevin Nulty and Captain Robert Zimmerman spoke to the town board about this year's process during a police commission meeting Tuesday night, answering questions related to incidents that led to some of . 

"Overall, the town handles the St. Patrick's Day Parade very, very well," Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart said. "A lot of work goes into it. There are always a few incidents, usually involving alcohol." 

Nulty said there was a new dynamic at this year's parade With Hoboken not holding one, many of those people came to Pearl River. Among other things, it changed the focus on where police attention was needed to include the train station as well as Middletown Road. 

Zimmerman said the department has already come up with some ideas that for practices that can make events safer and said they would be ready to speak about those more in the coming weeks.

"There are a lot of things we need to do differently," Zimmerman said. "As long as we're on the smae page, we can make events safer."

Nulty said he felt the Orangetown Police Department's greater focus on enforcing open container laws was helpful, but that there was an issue with underage drinking at the parade this year. 

He also pointed to another new policy from this year that worked, which was having vendors wear bracelets that they get along with their permits. That made it easier for police officers to identify vendors who had the permission needed to work the event. 

"It's a moving target," Stewart said. "You can see how the police are always preparing for any fluctuations. That's what they are supposed to do."

Last week's discussion included the expense of the event, including $55,924.79 in overtime for Orangetown Police for the day of the parade alone.

"Obviously, it is a benefit for the town, but it makes sense to see if there are ways to potentially recoup some of the cost," said Orangetown Director of Finance Jeff Bencik. "Maybe when bars have additional permit fees for larger groups. It's almost ive percent of the (police departments) entire ovetime budget for that one parad. I don't have anything official yet, but Id' ask everyone to think of ways we can recoup some of the cost from the people who benefit most from it."

"It's one day a year and it's a great day," Nulty said. "I forward to it. I also look forward to the next day, with nothing happening."

Nulty raised the concern of the large number of events in the town, which can be a drain on the department and the Orangetown Auxiliary Police. 

"It is really taxing on the auxiliary police," Nulty said. "These are working people donating their time. We need to start meeting with groups when they have an event to see if there is some way to support the event that doesn't involve auxiliary or paid officers. There are so many runs and things."

The Orangetown Police have already asked the Nyack Trustees to pass along event requests to the Zimmerman before approving them, giving him the opportunity to point out potential problems.

"Captain Zimmerman said he i sstill having events come up he doesn't have proper staff for. He doesn't know it's happening or where it's happening," Nyack Mayor Jen Laird-White said during Thursday's village trustees meeting. "We agreed we would work harder to make sure he is informed and that parking is informed beforehand and before we approve the event." 

Nulty said he would be meeting this week with organizers of this year's Irish Feis, which is expected to be held at the Masonic Park in Tappan. He said that meeting with groups planning events in the town ahead of time can help to ensure that they run smoother and cause fewer problems.

"We can tell them where are some of the potential pitfalls you might run into," Nulty said.

Orangetown Councilman Denis Troy, who has been involved in organizing the Irish Feis in the past, said he would like to hear more about how the event would be held at the new venue.

"I'd like to know what plan they have," Troy said. "It's a big undertaking compared to what has been put on before at Masonic."