Law Enforcement
In Royalton

I was recently asked by a resident to provide details on the history and progress of Royalton constables so he could respond to the Selectboard’s efforts to prohibit constables from providing law enforcement services. I would like to share this information so that voters can make an informed decision on March 6.

Roni Johnson served for four years as the Royalton First Constable beginning in 1998. He began the transformation of the constabulary into an active, credible, professional and respected police agency. He established policies for certification and annual training; and built professional relationships with other state and local agencies.

I succeeded Roni and I share Roni’s vision of a community-based police service that will be available whenever residents need assistance. We are both committed to the position that two constables can work together within a department to successfully provide traditional services without additional cost to the community. In order to maintain that commitment to this community; I wrote and secured grants and equipment from state programs totaling over $20,000, to supplement the Town’s budget and ease the taxpayers burden.

I will continue to serve as First Constable until I run for re-election in 2008. I unwillingly stepped back from providing police services after an August move by the Selectboard to take total control of all law enforcement services. The Selectboard voted to allocate the entire constable/enforcement budget to the services of the appointed police chief Bob Hull.

The Selectboard informed me that they would not need constable services, that the newly formed police department would handle all enforcement. Unfortunately the nature of law enforcement does not lend itself to a nine to five business day, and it is virtually impossible for a single person to work "24/7" and meet the needs of our community.

More importantly, what does our current budget pay for? If the Town is going to spend $37,000 a year, should we at least get the best service possible for our money?

Bob Hull’s time log doesn’t detail time of day of services provided, only total hours for the day; but other agency records suggest that he didn’t work any hours between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. when we probably need police coverage most. These records also indicate that he has made few, if any, traffic stops, arrests or referrals to the state’s attorney for prosecution.

Even though Chief Hull has provided neither the basic police functions nor any of the usual revenue from third party services or traffic tickets, the Selectboard still decided to provide him with a salary increase and a 20% budget increase.

Bob has always maintained a philosophy that constables should only handle minor incidents and generally should leave the basic law enforcement functions to the State Police. The State Police met with the voters at a warned Selectboard meeting in 2005, and made it clear that they could not cover all our needs. How can the Selectboard justify a considerable budget for a police department that will be served by someone who is unlikely to provide even the basic services?

The Selectboard’s decision to take the control of law enforcement from Royalton residents, who clearly voted their desire to elect their constables, is a concern. It would be very helpful to hear how the community feels before I decide whether I will continue to provide police services as I did before the Selectboard expressed a preference for a single appointed officer over elected constables.

I hope that residents will understand why it’s not a good idea to prohibit constables from providing police services and hope that they will support our efforts to protect and serve our community.

I’d also like to add that Roni Johnson has the time, dedication and experience to work as an important member of the constabulary. I hope that the community will seriously consider his candidacy for Second Constable and cast their vote in the best interest of Royalton.

Marc D. Nemeth

First Constable

Royalton