Sheriff's patrols set to begin in Clarendon
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By SANDI SWITZER HERALD CORRESPONDENT - Published: June 12, 2009
CLARENDON – Marked police cars will be patrolling the streets next month under a new contract signed by local officials.
The Clarendon Select Board entered into an agreement with the Rutland County Sheriff's Department on Monday for law enforcement services to begin July 1 for a 12-month period.
Board members approved the contract with the stipulation that police services not exceed the voter approved budgeted total of $19,600.
The board also named Selectman George Ambrose to serve as the town's liaison with the sheriff's department.
Select Board Chairman Michael Klopchin indicated in a later interview the law enforcement agency would be coordinating local patrols with police duties in a neighboring town.
"They're going to coordinate it with Wallingford, so they may vary patrols so that one week we may have eight hours and one week we may have two hours," Klopchin explained.
Motorists can expect to see police and radar patrols at schools during the early morning hours throughout the school year, he added.
"We also have some trouble spots in town. Up in Chippenhook there are some issues and over on East Road there are some issues, so when they first come on board we are going to direct them toward those areas," Klopchin said.
The sheriff's department will be conducting patrols, radar and other services as indicated by the town, he added.
"They will do designated things we ask them to do and they will patrol on their own through town, too," Klopchin said.
Citizens may contact the towns' constables, the Rutland County Sheriff's Department or the Vermont State Police with issues of concern, the board chairman said.
"Certainly, they can call the constables in town. But they have full-time jobs and that's one of the reasons why we hired the sheriff's department. Now that we have them under contract, it's my intention if I have some issues to call the sheriff," Klopchin said.
In case of emergency, however, residents should call 911, he added.
Ambrose told fellow board members at Monday's meeting the Rutland County Sheriff's Department and Vermont State Police would be providing contact information to residents in the coming weeks.
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