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Fredonia police chief urges hiring three officers as trustees plan coverage for Fred Fest weekend
Summary
Police Chief Price told trustees the department will be short three officers by the end of the month and requested authority to hire and send three recruits to the academy; trustees and regional law enforcement also discussed increased coordination for Fred Fest.
Fredonia Police Chief Price told trustees on March 3 that his department faces a sudden staffing shortfall and requested authorization to hire three officers and send them to the police academy to restore minimum staffing levels.
Chief Price said the department would be three officers short by month’s end, which he quantified as about 120 man-hours per week, and that hiring and academy timing could restore full staffing by September if recruits were available. He said he preferred to hire academy‑trained officers when possible but that current labor-market conditions mean qualified candidates are in short supply and are often hired by other agencies before the village can complete hiring steps.
On funding and retention: Price said the hires would not increase the department’s overall budget burden for the year as presented and that, consistent with State General Municipal Law practice, recruits the village funds for academy training would be tied to the village for a stated period (five years was cited) and would be required to repay training costs if they left earlier.
Fred Fest and interagency coordination: Chief Price and Mayor Ferguson described recent meetings with Fredonia State student leaders, college administrators and regional law enforcement to reduce large-party disorder during the annual Fred Fest weekend. College leaders and student organization representatives attended and proposed student‑led communications and accountability measures; Price said he expected increased manpower from neighboring agencies for the weekend and emphasized coordinated planning to reduce harm.
What the board did: Trustees did not take a binding vote to authorize hiring at the meeting. They acknowledged the need to re‑advertise, re‑canvass civil‑service eligible lists, conduct interviews and hire only qualified candidates. The chief said he would recanvass the eligibility list and begin interview steps once authorized.
