Republican View: City to cut SWAT vehicle

I abhor violence and condemn those who took over the Capitol Building. They do not represent me.

I’ve always been proud to live in this American democracy, with the oldest functioning constitution in the world. I understand people’s frustrations, but a mob is not the answer; understanding and agreeing with are not the same.

There are many questions that will need to be answered, like how a group of people, more like the cast of “Les Mis” than “White House Down,” were able to take over one of the most secure buildings in the world.

I expect all of those who entered the Capitol will be caught and prosecuted, just as I hope all those who burn businesses, riot and injure police officers will be caught and prosecuted. In a democracy, there is a place for protest; there is not a place for harming other people.

Unfortunately, there will always be that 5% of people more intent on bringing mayhem than lasting change and in the process push apart neighborhoods, elected officials and communities.

This brings me to a topic locally that could have serious implications in how we respond to events both isolated, but still life-threatening, like a person barricaded in their home with a hostage, a mass shooting event or a riot where special police teams are needed to keep you safe.

Tompkins County and the city of Ithaca are both “reimagining” police service in response to the governor’s order following the killing of George Floyd by police. This has been a thoughtful process with multiple meetings and input from the community.

You might expect that a report would be presented with a list of policy changes that would then be voted on by the county and city council, but judging from actions made last week, you’d be wrong.

Mayor Svante Myrick is apparently cutting the Special Weapons and Tactics vehicle from the city’s oversight. It’s being offered to the county, but in what capacity it will serve is unclear. What’s also unclear is if the SWAT unit will continue to function at all, with the mayor saying in June, “It’s crystal clear that the people of Ithaca feel like the SWAT Team does not represent their values.”

SWAT is a joint effort between the county and city, with 75% of the officers coming from the Ithaca Police Department and 25% from the County Sheriff’s Department. The team was built as a result of police officer Michael Padula being killed in the line of duty in 1996.

At that time, it was decided a team with a set of skills above and beyond the capability of patrol officers was needed. To accommodate the team, the city put in funding and money was raised from private donors like the Triad Foundation, Cornell University and Ithaca College.

With the retirement of the SWAT vehicle, there are several questions that need answering. The vehicle serves as a mobile command center and a home to on-scene emergency response led by SWAT. Has something changed in society that this is no longer needed?

SWAT is activated about 10 times a year for hostage situations to bomb threats. This is a significant policy change. Shouldn’t the city council and county Legislature have a say in this move? Shouldn’t those who donated the money with a certain expectation have their money returned?

Any time resources are pulled away from an organization, it’s seen as a vote on that agency or team’s importance. I fail to see how this cannot be seen in that light.

I’m also worried about the SWAT Team’s collaboration with the Ithaca Police Critical Negotiations Team, which work together to bring dangerous situations to an end through negotiation, not force. SWAT and this collaboration have been 25 years in the making, and putting them in jeopardy puts our citizens in jeopardy.

Is it too much to ask what the alternative plan is if we’re heading in a different direction? What is that direction? I thought some of that was going to be answered by the “reimagining” plan, but it looks like the city cannot wait.

The Ithaca Police Department cut six positions last year and now is cutting this vehicle. Those supporting “defunding the police” seem to be getting on the surface what they’re asking for, except those funds are not being diverted to alternatives to policing, something that has not been identified yet.

Mental health, housing, substance abuse and job creation have all been cited as alternatives to police, and yet, any “savings” have not been directed there. A couple of years ago, the county made a more than $1 million investment of new tax money into alternatives to incarceration. It came with careful planning and seems to be working with the jail population now in the 30s with few negative consequences.

That was debated, voted on and carefully considered. There was community buy-in. This latest move with the SWAT vehicle does not have any of those features.