Liberty police tell Sullivan County committee Knights Inn placements are creating public safety strain

Village of Liberty Police Chief Steve DeGada told the Sullivan County Legislature Public Safety Committee on May 1, 2025, that repeated placements of people experiencing homelessness at the Knights Inn Hotel have produced escalating crime, frequent violent incidents and an unsustainable drain on the village’s police resources.

DeGada said the department responded to 64 unique criminal incidents at the Knights Inn in the first quarter of 2025, accounting for about 165 hours of police time and 24 arrests. "That is the equivalent of nearly 7 full 24-hour days of police time and resources," he said, and added that his review showed approximately 82% of incidents during that period involved individuals placed by the Department of Social Services or their guests. He described a string of violent incidents, fatal overdoses and a past child death tied to fentanyl exposure at the property.

The chair of the committee and multiple legislators said they would arrange a follow-up meeting that includes the Village of Liberty Police Department, the sheriff's office, Commissioner John Little of Health and Human Services and county staff to discuss short-term mitigations and the commissioner’s longer-term shelter plan. Scott Schulte of county administration was asked to coordinate the meeting under open-meetings rules that limit how many legislators may attend.

Why it matters: DeGada told legislators the current hotel placement model is endangering residents who are not involved in criminal activity, straining the village’s two-officer patrol model and limiting officers’ ability to provide routine patrols. He urged the county to back Commissioner Little’s proposal for a professionally run 20-bed shelter for single adults and to require or fund immediate safety measures at facilities currently used for emergency housing.

Details and local context: DeGada said violent assaults, overdoses (including fatalities), child abuse, animal cruelty, robberies and repeated physical altercations have occurred at the Knights Inn Hotel. He singled out a fatal fentanyl exposure two years earlier, saying, "Exactly 2 years ago tomorrow, May 2, Akasha Lover, an innocent 16-month-old child, was tragically lost from a fatal exposure to fentanyl as a result of the criminal action of her parents at this very establishment." He told the committee the hotel currently requires 24/7 on-site security, functioning cameras, improved lighting, controlled access and consistent maintenance as conditions of county funding.

Committee response and next steps: Legislators and county staff said they had already discussed the problem and that Commissioner Little meets frequently with hotel management. Committee members and county staff agreed to (1) convene a meeting with Liberty officials, the sheriff’s office, Health and Human Services and county attorneys to pursue immediate safety fixes and (2) pursue support for the proposed 20-bed shelter. The meeting will be coordinated by Scott Schulte and limited to the number of legislators allowed to participate under the open‑meetings rule.

What was not decided: No formal vote or contract change was recorded at the meeting. Deputies of the Department of Social Services discussed termination of services as an administrative tool; committee members noted that when an individual has legally established residency at a location for more than 28 days, eviction becomes a civil process that requires action by the property owner and is not automatic.

Community impact: Speakers said the situation affects unhoused individuals placed at the hotel, other hotel residents who do not engage in criminal behavior, Liberty residents and the local police force. County staff and the committee noted that short-term mitigation (security and site improvements) and long-term solutions (a staffed shelter and broader homelessness prevention measures) need to proceed in parallel.

Ending: County staff will set the interagency meeting and return to the committee with options for immediate security and remediation measures, and with an update on Commissioner Little’s shelter plan.