Glens Falls assigns permanent downtown beat officer; department reports 298 calls in month and K-9 certified

At the April 8 meeting the Glens Falls police chief told the Board of Public Safety the department handled 298 calls for the month, 246 of which were EMS responses, and announced that an officer had been permanently assigned to a downtown beat to cover businesses and the city park from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.

"So far, 298 calls for the month; out of that, 246 of them were EMS," the chief reported, describing EMS calls as the department’s "bread and butter." The chief said the newly assigned downtown officer will provide a visible presence to support businesses and park users.

The chief also said the department’s K-9, Marshall, has been fully certified; the department completed department-wide in-service training, and Lieutenant Callahan will attend the required first-line leadership school hosted by FDNY.

Fire personnel assisted a neighboring town with a reservoir grate that had shifted under ice; crews worked carefully to free a 75-pound grate and return it to place, which department leaders said both saved the city money and provided on-the-job training. The board moved to accept the chief’s monthly report by voice vote.

Officials also accepted a gift (motion carried) and announced upcoming community safety events: an e-bike safety meeting on April 29 that includes a law-enforcement-only session and a children’s bike-safety event May 16 hosted by the library with local advocates assisting.