In a Monday morning interview with WHCU, Ithaca Police Benevolent Association President Tom Condzella discussed the Community Stabilization Unit plan to increase patrols in some areas of Ithaca that have been plagued by shootings and violent crime. During that interview, Condezella remarked that “there are no additional officers to staff these patrols” and that “NY State Police…are dealing with their own set of struggles,” and “they likely won’t be responding as promised as well. Or at least they haven’t yet.”
Condzella discussed the 47% reduction road patrol staffing since 2011, with the low numbers “not even close to what we (IPD) need.” IPD currently has 21 road patrol officers to cover three shifts, 7 days a week, down from 40 in 2011. This can result in situations where only two IPD officers are on patrol at a given time. Condzella says the staffing issue is hampering the department’s ability to adequately respond to crime, describing it as “chasing calls through the city.”