Port Ponders Smoke, Pot and Fireworks Laws and Hires Six Officers

A “diverse” group of six officers was recently hired by the Port Jervis Police Department, Chief Bill Worden said at the July Police Committee meeting. Having officers who reflect community demographics was one of the goals targeted in the city’s state mandated police department reform process. Two members of the reform committee were on the hiring committee, he said.

Mayor Kelly Decker later elaborated on the hires.

“None were black because no African Americans, to my knowledge, were on the eligible civil service list,” he said. “I say ‘to my knowledge,’ as I am not involved in the hiring process. The committee, which included someone who was African American and Hispanic, recommended, and the council hired two females and four males, one fluent in Spanish, all from different cultural and religious backgrounds, some local, some not.”

The hiring decisions were unanimous, Worden said, and the new officers will be introduced at a future council meeting. However, creation of a community police advisory committee, as recommended by the reform committee, will not happen for several months because they will be selected by the newly elected council members. Worden is researching different models for the committee, considering those in Albany, Middletown and elsewhere, looking at best practices.

Meanwhile, a grant application was recently submitted for police body cameras, which were also recommended by the reform committee.

 “The project total is just over $36,000, with  a 50/50 split. The city would pay half the cost,” said Valerie Maginsky, Community Development Agency director, who submitted the application. She had no estimate for response time.

The goal is for each officer to have their own camera, with extras available, a total of 32 cameras, with a life expectancy of three to four years, Worden said.

Officers are doing de-escalation trainings, including with a simulator, to prepare for “high stress” situations, he added.  

In other committee business, Worden noted confusion about fireworks laws, which prohibit fireworks discharge.

“We need to simplify and advertise the code,” he said. “Smoke and explosions have resulted from the easy availability of fireworks.”

He also mentioned efforts by Operation PJ Pride, in collaboration with other Orange County agencies, one with a grant, to stop people from smoking not just tobacco, but also marijuana, and vaping in public places. The agencies’ plan is to use the grant to update ordinances and provide signage.

Whether Port Jervis will allow marijuana dispensaries is under consideration, Worden said. Related issues include marijuana consumption on site and on city property.

“We need to do research and look at other states,” he said. “By fall, the state will send more guidance.”

He also mentioned that a resident had requested a four-way stop at Orange and Canal Streets. He found that nine crashes have occurred there in five years.

“In five years, that’s not outrageous for a busy intersection,” he said. “We’ll work on increasing compliance there and making street lines more visible.”

Port Jervis Police Chief Bill Worden at July Police Committee meeting