(Music)
>> Gary Walker: THIS IS THE
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" MONROE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEBATE.
CANDIDATES FOR THE MONROE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE MEET
TO TAKE CITIZEN QUESTIONS ON
TOUGH LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUES.
THE MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEBATE IS A PRESENTATION OF
"THE VOICE OF THE VOTER"
COLLABORATION OF WXXI, WOKR
NewsSource 13 AND "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
NOW, FROM WXXI TV STUDIOS,
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" PRESENTS
THE CANDIDATES FOR MONROE
COUNTY SHERIFF.
(Music)
>> Elissa Marra: AND THANK YOU
FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
I'M ELISSA MARRA.
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 21
YEARS, MONROE COUNTY WILL
ELECT A NEW SHERIFF.
TONIGHT, "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
BRINGS YOU A DEBATE AMONG
THE CANDIDATES IN THIS HOTLY
CONTESTED RACE.
THE CANDIDATES ARE:
PATRICK O'FLYNN,
THOMAS VASILE, JAMES CALDWELL,
AND VINCENT FAGGIANO.
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" IS A
COLLABORATION AMONG WXXI,
WOKR NewsSource 13, AND "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
AND "VOICE OF THE VOTER" ALSO
INCLUDES A LARGE CITIZEN
PANEL.
SOME OF THOSE CITIZENS ARE
HERE WITH US THIS EVENING AND
WILL BE ASKING QUESTIONS OF
THE CANDIDATES.
ALSO JOINING US TONIGHT FROM
OUR PARTNERS ARE PATRICE WALSH
FROM WOKR NewsSource 13,
POLITICAL REPORTER MICHAEL
CAPUTO FROM "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE," AND MARK GIARDINA
FROM WXXI-AM 1370 RADIO.
TONIGHT'S DEBATE IS ALSO
OFFERED TO VIEWERS IN SPANISH
USING THE S.A.P., THE
SECONDARY AUDIO PROGRAMMING
FEATURE ON YOUR TELEVISION.
TOMORROW AFTERNOON AT 5:30 WE
WILL ALSO AIR THIS PROGRAM
AGAIN WITH THE PRIMARY AUDIO
IN SPANISH AND THE S.A.P. IN
ENGLISH.
SO YOU CAN WATCH IT THAT WAY
AS WELL.
OUR FORMAT FOR THE DEBATE IS
AS FOLLOWS: EACH "VOICE OF
THE VOTER" PANELIST WILL ASK
THE CANDIDATES ONE QUESTION.
THE ORDER OF THE CANDIDATE
RESPONSE AND THE SEATING WAS
DETERMINED BY A LOTTERY,
AND PATRICK O'FLYNN DREW
NUMBER ONE IN THE LOTTERY.
HE WILL ANSWER THE FIRST
QUESTION FIRST, FOLLOWED BY
JAMES CALDWELL AND VINCENT
FAGGIANO, AND FINALLY THOMAS
VASILE.
THE ORDER WILL ROTATE ON THE
SECOND QUESTION, STARTING WITH
Mr. CALDWELL ANSWERING FIRST,
FOLLOWED BY THE OTHER
CANDIDATES IN THEIR NUMERIC
ORDER LEFT TO RIGHT.
THAT MEANS THAT EACH CANDIDATE
WILL BE ALLOWED TO ANSWER A
QUESTION FIRST AND LAST AT
LEAST TWICE TONIGHT.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL HAVE ONE
MINUTE TO RESPOND TO EACH OF
THE QUESTIONS.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF TONIGHT'S
DEBATE, EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE
GIVEN ONE MINUTE ALSO FOR
CLOSING REMARKS.
BEFORE WE GET STARTED, LET'S
INTRODUCE OUR CANDIDATES IN
THIS DEBATE.
PATRICK O'FLYNN IS THE CURRENT
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF AFTER
HIS APPOINTMENT IN JUNE OF
THIS YEAR BY GOVERNOR GEORGE
PATAKI FOLLOWING THE
RETIREMENT OF ANDREW MELONI.
HE REPRESENTS THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY, AND HE IS 44 YEARS OLD.
WE ALSO HAVE WITH US TONIGHT
VINCENT FAGGIANO.
HE IS A RETIRED COMMANDER IN
THE ROCHESTER POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
HE IS CURRENTLY A CERTIFIED
LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINER.
HE REPRESENTS THE DEMOCRAT AND
CONSERVATIVE PARTIES, AND HE
IS 53 YEARS OLD.
JAMES CALDWELL IS A MENTOR
COORDINATOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT FOR THE JUDICIAL
PROCESS COMMISSION, A LOCAL
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM GROUP.
HE IS REPRESENTING THE GREEN
PARTY, AND HE IS 56 YEARS OLD.
AND THOMAS VASILE IS WITH US
TONIGHT.
HE IS AN INSURANCE BROKER AND
GIVES BOMB THREAT AND SAFETY
SEMINARS AT AREA SCHOOLS.
HE REPRESENTS THE INDEPENDENCE
PARTY, AND HE IS 46 YEARS OLD.
SO NOW WE'RE READY TO BEGIN
TONIGHT'S DEBATE.
TONIGHT'S FIRST QUESTION COMES
FROM CARLA VAZQUEZ.
PLEASE COME RIGHT UP TO THE
MICROPHONE AND ASK YOUR
QUESTION OF THE CANDIDATES.
>> THIS IS REGARDING COMMUNITY
INVOLVEMENT AS IT RELATES TO
SOLUTIONS TO CRIME CONCERNS
AND COMMUNITY POLICING.
WHAT SPECIFIC PROGRAMS DO YOU
PLAN TO IMPLEMENT AS SHERIFF
AND PLEASE EXPLAIN THE GOALS
OF THOSE PROGRAMS AND HOW THE
PROGRAMS WOULD BE PUT INTO
OPERATION THROUGHOUT THE
COUNTY.
>> Elissa Marra: WE BEGIN WITH
Mr. O'FLYNN.
>> THANK YOU.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF COMMUNITY
POLICING IS SOMETHING THAT'S
BEEN AN ONGOING PROCESS WITH
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR MANY,
MANY YEARS.
WE HAVE HAD CRIME PREVENTION
DEPUTIES IN OUR ZONES TO WORK
WITH COMMUNITY GROUPS AND WE
DEVELOP TOWN AND VILLAGE
MEETINGS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
COMMUNITY GETS THEIR WORD TO
THE DEPUTY AND THEN WE CAN
WORK ON SOLUTIONS TOGETHER.
WE HAVE ALSO DEVELOPED
SATELLITE OFFICES SO THE
DEPUTIES CAN BE MORE
CONVENIENT TO THE COMMUNITY SO
THEY CAN GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT
QUICKER AND THEY CAN WORK
TOGETHER.
IT MAKES A WHOLE LOT OF SENSE
TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY WORKING
TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE TO
WORK ON PROBLEMS BECAUSE IT
NOT ONLY MAXIMIZES YOUR
RESOURCES, BUT IT GETS THE
INFORMATION OUT AND IT
ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO GET
INVOLVED.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
NEXT TO ANSWER THE QUESTION,
Mr. CALDWELL.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> WHAT I FEEL IS THAT THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO
BE MORE VISIBLE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE NEED TO HAVE MORE
COMMUNICATION WITH OUR PEOPLE
IN THE COMMUNITY AND DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS IN THE
COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO NEED TO HAVE OUTREACH
LIKE WE DO WHERE WE HAVE THE
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT THERE AS
WELL AS THE MONROE COUNTY
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I THINK THE COALITION SHOULD
BE THAT WE SHOULD ALL BE
WORKING TOGETHER TOWARDS THE
SAME GOAL AS FAR AS BUILDING
MORE TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY SO
THAT PEOPLE WILL BE WILLING TO
COME TO US WITH DIFFERENT
ISSUES INSTEAD OF RUNNING AWAY
WHEN THEY SEE US COMING.
>> Elissa Marra: NEXT TO
ANSWER THE QUESTION,
Mr. FAGGIANO.
>> COMMUNITY POLICING IS
REALLY A PHILOSOPHY.
IT'S NOT A PROGRAM OR AN
OFFICER ON A BIKE.
IT'S THE ATTITUDE OF THE
OFFICERS THAT DEAL WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
THAT STARTS FROM THE TOP DOWN.
I THINK WE NEED, FIRST OF ALL,
TO INSTITUTE A PHILOSOPHY OF
COLLABORATION WITH THE
COMMUNITY AND IT MUST BE WITH
THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, NOT JUST
THE AREA THAT THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT PATROLS BUT ALSO
THOSE OTHER AREAS OF OUR
COUNTY.
AND I ALSO THINK IT HAS TO GO
FURTHER.
COMMUNITY POLICING CAN PLAY A
SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE
SERVICE OF THE MONROE COUNTY
JAIL.
I THINK INVOLVING THE
COMMUNITY IN THAT OPERATION I
THINK WILL HELP US TO SOLVE
SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THERE AND
BRING ABOUT CHANGE THAT'S
NEEDED THERE.
SO IT TRULY IS A COLLABORATION
WORKING TOGETHER.
I HAVE PROPOSED CITIZEN ACTION
COMMUNITIES IN EACH OF THE
ZONES FOR THE CAPTAINS TO WORK
WITH THE CITIZENS TO IDENTIFY
PROBLEMS AND IDENTIFY
SOLUTIONS THAT WILL WORK.
IT'S A PHILOSOPHY I USED FOR
FIVE YEARS WHEN I WAS THE
GOODMAN SECTION COMMANDER.
>> Elissa Marra: THE NEXT IDEA
FOR COMMUNITY POLICING FROM
Mr. VASILE.
>> THANK YOU.
AND THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION
BECAUSE MY ENTIRE CAMPAIGN IS
BASED ON COMMUNITY POLICING.
I HAVE PICKED OUT SEVERAL
THINGS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO
AS THE SHERIFF, BUT AS FAR AS
COMMUNITY POLICING IS
CONCERNED AND OUTREACH TO THE
COMMUNITY, TO INVOLVE THE
COMMUNITY IN DECISION-MAKING,
I PROPOSED HAVING TOWN
QUARTERLY MEETINGS IN
DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY
AND THE CITY.
THE SHERIFF AND HIS COMMAND
STAFF TO GO OUT AND ANSWER
QUESTIONS, DEVELOP THAT
RELATIONSHIP.
I ALSO PROPOSED COMMUNITY
ACTION TEAMS, TO DEVELOP
COMMUNITY ACTION TEAMS, AND I
DEVELOPED A SITUATION WHERE WE
CAN GO OUT AND START
DEVELOPING STRATEGIES WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
I PICKED OUT SIX DIFFERENT
LOCATIONS IN THIS COUNTY WHERE
WE NEED TO REACH OUT MORE TO
THE CITIZENS OF MONROE COUNTY,
AND I CALL THAT THE COPS'
PROGRAM.
THAT WILL INCLUDE
COMMUNITY-ORIENTED POLICING,
SHERIFF'S SATELLITES THAT WILL
INVOLVE THE ZONE STATIONS.
WE'LL REACH OUT TO THE
COMMUNITY.
I'M GLAD FOR THAT QUESTION.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S ALL
THE TIME WE HAVE.
THE NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
Mr. ORIENTER, FRANK ORIENTER.
PLEASE COME RIGHT UP TO THE
MICROPHONE.
Mr. CALDWELL WILL ANSWER THIS
QUESTION FIRST.
>> IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS
IN NEW YORK CITY, INTERAGENCY
COORDINATION, COMMUNICATION,
AND OPERATIONAL READINESS IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER.
PART OF MONROE COUNTY IS
WITHIN A TEN-MILE ZONE OF
GINNA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.
SPECIFICALLY, WHAT WILL YOU DO
TO ENHANCE EFFECTIVENESS AND
PUBLIC SAFETY?
PLEASE PRIORITIZE THOSE
ACTIONS YOU WOULD TAKE FIRST
AND WHICH COULD BE INTRODUCED
OVER TIME AND HOW WOULD YOU
MEASURE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF
YOUR PLAN?
THANK YOU.
>> Elissa Marra: ONE MINUTE TO
RESPOND.
>> I THINK WHAT WE NEED TO DO
IS CONSIDER ALL THINGS TAKING
PLACE AT THIS TIME AND HAVE
OUR AGENCIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES HAVE SOME TYPE OF
CONTROL OVER WHAT'S TAKING
PLACE ON THESE DIFFERENT PLANS
SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE
SECURITY TO HAVE THESE PEOPLE
SAFE AND TO MAKE IT KNOWN TO
ALL OTHER AGENCIES WHAT WE'RE
DOING AND THE PROCESS OF WHAT
WE'RE DOING AND HOW WE PLAN ON
GOING ABOUT DOING THESE
CERTAIN THINGS TO PROTECT NOT
ONLY THE PLANTS IN THE
COMMUNITY BUT THE PEOPLE IN
THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
THAT'S OUR FIRST PRIORITY, TO
PROTECT AND KEEP EVERYONE
SAFE.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
Mr. FAGGIANO?
>> THE ROCHESTER COMMUNITY IS
VERY FORTUNATE BECAUSE
COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY, THIS AREA IS BETTER
PREPARED THAN MOST AREAS OF
THE COUNTRY.
WE HAVE A PROGRAM CALLED THE
TEAM COMMAND TRAINING SYSTEM
IN PLACE HERE.
I WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PUTTING
THAT TOGETHER WHEN IT STARTED.
HOWEVER, WE NEED TO GO TO THE
NEXT LEVEL.
WE NEED NOT ONLY TO HAVE A
PLAN; WE NEED TO TRAIN TO THAT
PLAN AND PRACTICE THAT PLAN.
THIS IS WHAT I SPENT THE LAST
TEN YEARS DOING AROUND THE
COUNTRY, BRINGING TOGETHER
POLICE, FIRE, E.M.S.
RESPONDERS AND GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS SO NOT ONLY DO WE
HAVE A GOOD RESPONSE INITIALLY
TO AN INCIDENT BUT THAT WE CAN
HAVE A COORDINATED TEAM EFFORT
TO BRING IT TO A SUCCESSFUL
CONCLUSION.
WE ARE IN GOOD SHAPE IN THIS
AREA.
WE MUST BE IN BETTER SHAPE.
GINNA HAS CAUSED US TO HAVE
GREAT PLANS FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS.
I THINK THE NEW THREAT LEVEL
IS THAT WHICH WE CAN'T
ANTICIPATE.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED TO BE
READY FOR.
SO WE NEED A PLAN; WE NEED TO
PRACTICE IT; FOLKS NEED TO
KNOW THEIR ROLE WHEN DISASTER
STRIKES.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. VASILE?
>> IT'S A GREAT QUESTION ABOUT
THE GINNA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT,
AND I THINK WE SHOULD ALL BE
VERY WELL AWARE OF THAT.
WE HAVE SYSTEMS IN PLACE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, I WAS THE
LEADER IN ATTEMPTING TO TRAIN
WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS OUT IN
GINNA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT AS
THE BOMB SQUAD COMMANDER.
WE FORMULATED TRAINING WITH
THE WAYNE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE AND THE MONROE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND SOME OF
THE LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS HERE
IN THE COUNTY, THE OFFICE OF
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND WE
DO HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE.
AS A SERGEANT WITH THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE DID AT
TIMES PRACTICE THAT PLAN.
WE CARRIED EQUIPMENT IN THE
VEHICLES TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND
IMMEDIATELY.
BUT WE HAVE TO GO FURTHER WITH
THE TRAINING.
TRAINING IS MOST IMPORTANT AND
CONNECTING WITH THE COMMUNITY
THROUGH THE COMMUNITY
POLICING.
IN MY PLAN OF COMMUNITY
POLICING, FOLKS WILL KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING;
FOLKS WILL KNOW EXACTLY WHAT
TYPE OF TRAINING THAT WE GO
THROUGH AND HOW WE CONDUCT
THAT TRAINING AND HOW WE WILL
CONDUCT OURSELVES IN CASE OF
EMERGENCY.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
Mr. O'FLYNN IS NEXT.
>> THE PRESENCE OF THE GINNA
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT IN THIS
COMMUNITY HAS ACTUALLY BEEN A
BENEFIT IN A LOT OF WAYS
BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE
FEDERAL MANDATES ON TRAINING
BUT WE ALSO HAVE OFFSETTING
FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR EQUIPMENT
AND TO ENSURE THAT DRILLS AND
TRAINING GO ON.
I, TOO, WAS A TRAINER AND
FACILITATOR IN THE TEAM
COMMAND CONCEPT AND ALSO
COMMAND POST OPERATIONS THAT
Mr. FAGGIANO SPOKE ABOUT, BUT
WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK AT
COORDINATING MORE CLOSELY
BECAUSE OF THE BIOHAZARD
ISSUES THAT ARE NOW FACING
THIS COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WITH
HAZMAT; WE HAVE TO WORK
TOGETHER WITH THE COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WORK IN
A COLLABORATION TO ENSURE THAT
WE HAVE THE BEST PLAN AND THE
MOST EFFECTIVE PRECAUTIONS FOR
THE COMMUNITY.
THIS IS A SAFE COMMUNITY AND I
WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE
DON'T FEEL THAT THERE IS
HYSTERIA AND EVERYTHING ELSE
GOING ON OUT THERE BECAUSE OF
THE SITUATION THAT OCCURRED
SEPTEMBER 11TH AND THE
SUBSEQUENT BIOTERRORISM
ISSUES.
>> Elissa Marra: THE NEXT
QUESTION COMES FROM KATHI
BARRY ALBERTINI.
SHE IS COMING TO THE
MICROPHONE.
THE FIRST PERSON TO ANSWER
THIS QUESTION WILL BE
Mr. FAGGIANO.
GO AHEAD, KATHI.
>> THE SUBJECT OF
CONSOLIDATION COMES UP
FREQUENTLY THROUGHOUT THE
CAMPAIGN.
YOU HAVE ALL ANSWERED
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT IN
VARIOUS WAYS.
I WOULD LIKE YOU TO DESCRIBE
THE LARGEST HURDLE TO
CONSOLIDATION, THE BEST
ADVANTAGE TO CONSOLIDATING AND
THEN STATE YOUR POSITION.
THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THE LARGEST HURDLE
SOMETIMES IS THE POLITICAL
ATTITUDE OF SOME OF THE PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN IT.
I THINK THE POLITICS COMES IN
SOMETIMES MORE THAN WHAT IS
GOOD FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I THINK THE ADVANTAGES TO IT
OBVIOUSLY ARE BEING ABLE TO
CONSOLIDATE OUR EFFORTS.
DURING THIS PROCESS, I HAVE
MET WITH ALL OF THE TOWN AND
VILLAGE CHIEFS.
THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED FOR ME
THE AREAS THEY FEEL THE MONROE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
CAN BEST HELP THEM TO PROVIDE
SERVICE.
I THINK WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE
SIGHT THAT THE RIGHT FOR A
COMMUNITY TO OPT FOR ITS OWN
POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE RIGHT
OF A COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK
THE MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT MUST TAKE A MORE
ACTIVE ROLE IN WORKING WITH
THE OTHER TWO-THIRDS OF THIS
COMMUNITY WHO NOT ONLY FINANCE
THEIR OWN DEPARTMENTS BUT ALSO
HELP TO FINANCE THE MONROE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
SO WE NEED TO IDENTIFY AREAS
LIKE DRUG ABUSE, IDENTIFYING
CRIMINAL RECIDIVISTS THAT WE
CAN REMOVE FROM THIS
COMMUNITY, FORENSIC WORK...
THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE
AREAS THAT CHIEFS HAVE
IDENTIFIED TO ME AND AREAS I
THINK WE SHOULD FOCUS ON.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. VASILE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
WE HAVE ALL ANSWERED THAT
QUESTION IN DIFFERENT MANNERS.
I THINK THE BIGGEST HURDLE
INVOLVED IS THE POLITICS, THE
PARTISAN POLITICS INVOLVED IN
ALL THE TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
SOME OF THE BIGGEST THINGS
ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER AND
CONSOLIDATING SERVICES ARE THE
EGOS SOMETIMES THAT GET IN THE
WAY, THAT GET IN THE WAY OF
SOME OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
OFFICIALS; THEIR JURISDICTIONS
ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO THEM.
I THINK THE SHERIFF NEEDS TO
TAKE A LEAD IN WIPING THOSE
EGOS AWAY AND GETTING PEOPLE
TOGETHER AND COMBINING SOME OF
THESE SERVICES FOR THE PEOPLE
AND NOT JUST SIT HERE AND TALK
ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME BUT TO
ACTUALLY DO IT AND IMPLEMENT
SERVICES SUCH AS HOMICIDE
SQUAD, BURGLARY TASK FORCES,
TO BRING A COMBINATION OF DRUG
TASK FORCES TOGETHER INSTEAD
OF SPLITTING IT UP ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AND THE COUNTY --
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> -- AND I THINK WE ALL NEED
TO GET TOGETHER AND SIT DOWN
AND DO IT FOR THE PEOPLE AND
NOT JUST TALK ABOUT IT.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. O'FLYNN
NEXT, CONSOLIDATION OF
SERVICES.
>> YES, THE HURDLES YOU DO
FACE ARE POLITICAL IN NATURE.
BUT THE DECISION DOES NOT REST
WITH THE SHERIFF AS TO WHETHER
THE COMMUNITY DECIDES TO
COMBINE AND POTENTIALLY
ABOLISH A POLICE DEPARTMENT OR
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THAT'S UP TO THE COMMUNITY,
AND IT SHOULD BE BECAUSE THEY
ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE THEIR
PARTICULAR INTERESTS IN MIND.
I THINK THE ADVANTAGES ARE
THAT YOU CAN MAXIMIZE THE
LIMITED PERSONNEL THAT WE HAVE
IN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT
COMMUNITY AND THEY CAN BE MUCH
BETTER UTILIZED WITH A
COMBINATION AND COORDINATION.
WE HAVE COMBINED OUR DRUG TASK
FORCE WITH BOB DUFFY, MY
FRIEND IN THE CITY POLICE
DEPARTMENT.
WE'VE ALSO GOT OUR SPECIALIZED
UNITS, OUR SWATS AND BOMB
SQUADS, TO COMBINE ON TRAINING
ISSUES AND TO BE ABLE TO
MAXIMIZE IN THAT REGARD.
WE ALSO HAVE COMBINED IN THE
MAJOR CRIMES AREA, AND WE'VE
GOT A CHILD SEXUAL
EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE TEAM
THAT WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
AND THE ROCHESTER POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND THE LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
SO WE HAVE SEEN SOME GOOD
QUALITY COOPERATION AND
COORDINATION.
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MORE.
BUDGET IS GOING TO BE DRIVING
THAT BECAUSE IT'S VERY
EXPENSIVE TO RUN A POLICE
DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY IF YOU
TRY TO DO IT SEPARATE FROM
ANYONE ELSE.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. CALDWELL?
>> I THINK COMBINING THE
FORCES TOGETHER WOULD BE A
GOOD EXPERIENCE FOR A LOT OF
DIFFERENT REASONS.
FOR ONE, THE FACT THAT WE
COULD SAVE A LOT OF MONEY IF
WE DID FINANCE ONE DEPARTMENT,
AND WE COULD SPREAD THAT
DEPARTMENT OUT TO COVER THE
MONROE COUNTY AREA AND OTHER
PARTS OF THE COUNTY THAT WE
DEAL WITH.
AS FAR AS THE SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT, IT'S INVOLVED IN
BASICALLY EVERYTHING IN MONROE
COUNTY AND OUTSIDE OF THE
COUNTY.
SO I SEE NO PROBLEM WITH A
COMBINATION OF THESE DIFFERENT
ORGANIZATIONS COMBINING
TOGETHER AND BECOMING ONE SO
THAT WE COULD KNOW WHAT EACH
OTHER IS DOING AND WE COULD
HAVE THE SAME PHILOSOPHIES AND
DOING THE SAME THINGS AT THE
SAME TIMES UNDER ONE COMMAND.
SO I THINK IT'S A VERY
FEASIBLE IDEA FOR THAT TO
HAPPEN.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
NOW WE HAVE A QUESTION FROM A
MEMBER OF THE MEDIA, ONE OF
OUR PARTNERS, MICHAEL CAPUTO
FROM "THE DEMOCRAT AND
CHRONICLE."
Mr. VASILE WILL ANSWER THE
QUESTION FIRST.
>> THE DEPUTIES' UNION HAS
SAID THAT THEY LOSE DEPUTIES
AND NEW RECRUITS TO
BETTER-PAYING DEPARTMENTS.
WILL YOU AS SHERIFF FIGHT FOR
A BIG INCREASE IN PAY AND HOW
WOULD YOU DO THAT IF BUDGETARY
TIMES BECOME MORE DIFFICULT
FOR COUNTY GOVERNMENT?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. VASILE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.
IT HAS BEEN A LONGSTANDING
PROBLEM IN THE DEPARTMENT.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, MY
POCKETBOOK KNOWS IT'S BEEN A
LONGSTANDING PROBLEM IN THE
DEPARTMENT FOR PARITY ACROSS
THE COUNTY, COMPARING THE
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES AND THEIR
PAY TO THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS
IN THE COUNTY.
I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
THING THAT THE SHERIFF TAKE AN
ACTIVE ROLE NOT ONLY IN
NEGOTIATING THE PAY SCALES OF
HIS OR HER DEPUTIES BUT ALSO
TO TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN
DEVELOPING A GOOD RELATIONSHIP
WITH THE UNIONS WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT.
THERE ARE THREE SEPARATE
UNIONS WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT
RIGHT NOW.
MY PLAN SHOWS THAT I WANT TO
MEET WITH UNION OFFICIALS ON A
MONTHLY BASIS, TO BE ABLE TO
BRING MANAGEMENT UP TO SNUFF
AS TO WHAT'S HAPPENING.
AS FAR AS BUDGETARY ISSUES ARE
CONCERNED, WE NEED TO EXTRACT
SOME OF THE BUDGETARY ISSUES
IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE PART OF
THE DEPARTMENT SO THAT WE CAN
KEEP WITHIN THE BUDGETARY
LIMITS THAT THE LEGISLATURE
ALLOWS US.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S TIME.
Mr. O'FLYNN?
>> THE LAST CONTRACT THAT WAS
SETTLED BROUGHT THE DEPUTIES
UP IN PARITY.
AND IN FACT, WE HAVE BEEN VERY
FORTUNATE BECAUSE THE DEPUTIES
HAVE RECEIVED A BENEFITS
PACKAGE THAT ACTUALLY EXCEEDS
MOST OF THE OTHER POLICE
AGENCIES OUT THERE.
WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IN THE
PAST BECAUSE OF THE RETIREMENT
SYSTEM.
THE RETIREMENT SYSTEM FORCED A
DEPUTY TO WORK UNTIL HE WAS 62
YEARS OLD WHEN HIS
COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER POLICE
AGENCIES WOULD BE ABLE TO
RETIRE AFTER 20 YEARS OR
ALMOST 20 YEARS' LESS TIME.
THAT WAS A BIG OBSTACLE IN
RECRUITING AND RETAINING
PEOPLE.
WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THOSE
TWO PROBLEMS REPAIRED QUITE
WELL AND WE HAVE NOT HAD A
PROBLEM WITH THE LOSS OF
PEOPLE, AND THE COMMUNICATION
I HAVE HAD WITH THE STAFF
INDICATES THEY'RE VERY
SATISFIED WITH THE CONTRACT
THEY HAVE; THEY ENJOY THE
WORKING CONDITIONS THEY HAVE,
AND THEY ENJOY COMING TO WORK
AND WORKING FOR THE SHERIFF'S
OFFICE.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. CALDWELL?
>> YES, I THINK THE CONTRACTS
SHOULD BE REVISED
PERIODICALLY, MAYBE OVER A
PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS OR SO.
BUT I THINK WE ALSO NEED TO
OPEN UP THE DOOR FOR EQUAL
EMPLOYMENT FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO
COME INTO THESE DEPARTMENTS AS
WELL.
AS Mr. O'FLYNN JUST MENTIONED
ABOUT THE RETIREMENT, I THINK
IF WE HAD OFFICERS THAT COULD
RETIRE MAYBE A LITTLE BIT
EARLIER WITH A GOOD PENSION
AND WE COULD BUILD THE
EMPLOYMENT RATE UP BY BRINGING
OTHER PEOPLE INTO THE FORCE.
SO I THINK IT WORKS TWO
DIFFERENT WAYS, YOU KNOW, AS
FAR AS SAVING MONEY AND ADDING
MONEY TO THE BUDGET AS FAR AS
THE EMPLOYMENT RECORD GOES.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. FAGGIANO?
>> I THINK CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIONS ARE A
NEVER-ENDING CYCLE.
WHEN WE SIT BACK AND SAY, "WE
ARE WHERE WE WANT TO BE,"
THAT'S USUALLY WHEN WE'LL FALL
BEHIND.
I THINK IN AN ONGOING PROCESS,
THE MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT MUST REMAIN
COMPETITIVE IN PAY AND
BENEFITS WITH OTHER POLICE
DEPARTMENTS IN THIS AREA.
NOW, THE NEGOTIATIONS,
ALTHOUGH THE SHERIFF TAKES
PART IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS,
ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE BETWEEN
THE UNION AND THE COUNTY.
IS THE SHERIFF'S ROLE ONE TO
ADVOCATE FOR HIS PERSONNEL?
ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK THAT SHERIFF HAS TO BE
THERE ADVOCATING FOR THE BEST
PAY AND THE BEST BENEFITS FOR
HIS EMPLOYEES BECAUSE IN DOING
SO HE CAN ENSURE THAT WE CAN
RECRUIT AND RETAIN THE CREAM
OF THE CROP, A DIVERSE GROUP
OF RECRUITS THAT WILL REFLECT
THIS COMMUNITY.
AND NEVER FORGET --
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> -- BENEFITS.
WORK CONDITIONS ARE AS
CRITICAL TO THOSE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO PUT THEIR LIFE ON
THE LINE AS PAY IS.
WE CONSTANTLY HAVE TO BE
STRIVING TO GIVE THEM THE BEST
WORKING CONDITIONS POSSIBLE.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM A
MEMBER OF OUR "VOICE OF THE
VOTER" PANEL.
IT'S REBECCA CARACCI.
PLEASE COME TO THE MICROPHONE.
>> IF ELECTED, WHAT IS THE
MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU WOULD
BRING TO THE OFFICE OF
SHERIFF?
>> Elissa Marra: AND
Mr. O'FLYNN ANSWERS THIS ONE
FIRST.
>> I THINK IT'S HONESTY,
INTEGRITY, AND EXPERIENCE.
THE PUBLIC GIVES YOU THEIR
TRUST WHEN YOU'RE A LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND THAT'S
SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NEVER BE
VIOLATED.
I FEEL THAT THE MOST PROUD
PART OF THE JOB FOR ME IS THE
REPUTATION THAT WE'VE HAD.
SINCE I HAVE BEEN LEADING THE
ORGANIZATION, WITH SHERIFF
ANDY MELONI, WE HAVE BEEN
TOTALLY CORRUPTION-FREE.
AND THAT'S A RECORD THAT I
THINK IS JUST ABSOLUTELY
INCREDIBLE BECAUSE WHEN YOU
CONSIDER THE TYPES OF
ACTIVITIES AND YOU'RE RUNNING
A JAIL.
AND WHEN OUR PEOPLE WERE
TESTED, THEY HAVE COME THROUGH
WITH FLYING COLORS.
I AM SO PROUD OF THE STAFF
BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE IN THIS
ORGANIZATION; THEY BELIEVE IN
THE REPUTATION WE HAVE
DEVELOPED.
WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD
REPUTATION IN THE COMMUNITY
AND OUR REPUTATION HAS ALWAYS
BEEN THAT OF FAIRNESS.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. CALDWELL?
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU
BRING TO THIS POSITION?
>> MY DESIRE TO SERVE THE
COMMUNITY AND SERVE THE PEOPLE
OF MONROE COUNTY.
THE DESIRE IS THERE AND THE
WILLINGNESS IS THERE.
AS FAR AS THE JAIL, I THINK
THE JAIL NEEDS SOME THINGS
THAT NEED TO BE DONE TO IT, AS
FAR AS UPLIFTING THE
EMPLOYMENT SITUATION AND
DEALING WITH PEOPLE THAT'S
INCARCERATED IN THE MONROE
COUNTY JAIL.
I THINK WE NEED TO UPLIFT THAT
SPIRIT AND BRING THE COALITION
ABOUT WHERE WE CAN HAVE THE
OFFICERS IDENTIFY WHICH PEOPLE
THAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH
WHILE THEY'RE INCARCERATED AS
WELL AS EDUCATION, VOCATION,
AND IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT PART
THAT WE DEAL WITH THE MEDICAL
AS WELL.
ALL THAT'S BASED AROUND
REHABILITATION, YOU KNOW?
THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
Mr. FAGGIANO?
>> I THINK HONESTY, INTEGRITY
AND EXPERIENCE IS SOMETHING
THAT MOST OF US IN THIS RACE
BRING TO IT.
WHAT SETS MYSELF APART FROM
THE OTHER CANDIDATES IS THAT
IN ADDITION TO THE 30 YEARS OF
EXPERIENCE LOCALLY, FOR THE
LAST TEN YEARS, I HAVE HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL THIS
COUNTRY AND WORK WITH
THOUSANDS OF POLICE
ADMINISTRATORS.
I HAVE WORKED WITH THE METRO
DADE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND
LEARNED THE ISSUES THEY FACED
WHEN THEIR COMMUNITY WAS HIT
BY HURRICANE ANDREW.
I WORKED WITH THE PEOPLE THAT
RESPONDED TO COLUMBINE HIGH
SCHOOL AND LEARNED THE
DIFFICULTIES THEY FACED IN
THAT SITUATION.
SO I CAN NOT ONLY BRING THE
LOCAL EXPERIENCE, BUT I CAN
BRING THAT NATIONAL
PERSPECTIVE TO PREPARE THIS
COMMUNITY TO RESPOND IF THOSE
SITUATIONS SHOULD OCCUR HERE.
I THINK NO ONE ELSE IN THIS
RACE CAN BRING THAT TYPE OF
NATIONAL EXPERIENCE INTO THIS
RACE.
>> Elissa Marra: AND
Mr. VASILE?
>> THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION
BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL RIGHT:
HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IS ONE
OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS,
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE
INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
I WILL EXTRACT THE POLITICS
FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT BUT I
WILL ALSO WORK HARD TO BRING
BACK THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
WE NEED A SENSE OF COMMUNITY
NOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE.
AND IN LIGHT OF SEPTEMBER
11th, IN SEEING ALL THE SENSE
OF COMMUNITY WITHIN NEW YORK
CITY AND PEOPLE JUST RUSHING
TOGETHER TO HELP ONE ANOTHER,
I THINK THAT'S A VERY
IMPORTANT PART OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
WE NEED TO BE THE LEADERS AND
I WILL BE THE LEADER AT THAT,
18 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK
IF I HAVE TO.
BUT I ALSO BRING A LOT OF
BACKGROUND IN INSTRUCTION.
I TOO AM AN INSTRUCTOR.
I TEACH POLICE OFFICERS ACROSS
THIS COUNTRY HOW TO TALK TO
PEOPLE, INTERPERSONAL
COMMUNICATION SKILLS, AND
THAT'S THE IMPORTANT THING WE
HAVE TO GET BACK TO IN
POLICING.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
Mr. CALDWELL WILL ANSWER OUR
NEXT QUESTION FIRST.
IT'S FROM RAMADAN MUHAMMAD,
A "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
PANELIST.
PLEASE COME RIGHT TO THE
MICROPHONE AND ASK YOUR
QUESTION.
>> MY QUESTION IS IN REGARDS
TO THE DRUG PROBLEM AND THE
DRUG TRAFFICKING.
I HAVE NOTICED IN BUSINESS
ACTUALLY THAT YOU HAVE A VERY
GOOD INFRASTRUCTURE IN ORDER
TO OPERATE BUSINESS, AND I
HAVE NOTICED THAT IN YEARS
THAT NO ONE HAS EVER ATTACKED
THE PROBLEM OF DRUG
INFRASTRUCTURE, AND I WONDER
WHY AND I WISH THAT SOMEONE
WOULD ADDRESS THAT.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. CALDWELL,
PLEASE GO FIRST.
>> THE WAR ON DRUGS, I THINK,
NEEDS TO START AT THE BORDER,
BUT ALSO THE WAR ON DRUGS
NEEDS TO START IN THE
COMMUNITY AS FAR AS
REHABILITATION, TREATMENT,
COUNSELING.
TREATMENT IS VERY IMPORTANT IN
THE WAR ON DRUGS.
IF WE EDUCATE THE PEOPLE
TOWARD THE PROBLEMS THAT
THEY'RE HAVING WITH DRUGS, I
THINK WE COULD ELIMINATE SOME
OF THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE
ARE DEALING WITH DRUGS.
THAT WOULD KIND OF OUTSCALE
THE GLAMORIZATION OF BRINGING
DRUGS INTO COMMUNITIES AND
HAVING PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT'S
WILLING TO TRY TO MAKE A
LIVING OFF SELLING THEM.
YOU KNOW, THE GLAMORIZATION --
IF WE DEGLAMORIZE IT, IF WE
PUT IT IN THE RIGHT
PERSPECTIVE WITH EDUCATION AND
TREATMENT, I THINK A LOT OF
THAT PROBLEM COULD BE SOLVED.
IT WON'T BE ELIMINATED, BUT IT
COULD BE SOLVED TO A CERTAIN
DEGREE AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED
TO BE WORKING TOWARD:
EDUCATION AND TREATMENT
INSTEAD OF INCARCERATION.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. FAGGIANO?
>> I'VE BEEN A LONG PROPONENT
FOR EDUCATION AND TREATMENT,
BUT TO DIRECTLY ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION, TO ATTACK THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, IT TAKES A
COORDINATED, CONSOLIDATED
EFFORT OF ALL THE RESOURCES OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT TO DO THAT.
WE CANNOT REMAIN FRAGMENTED IN
OUR APPROACH AND EXPECT TO
DISMANTLE ORGANIZATIONS THAT
ARE VERY INTRICATE.
IN THE TWO YEARS THAT I HEADED
THE MONROE COUNTY DRUG TASK
FORCE, WE HAD MEMBERS FROM
LOCAL DEPARTMENTS, NOT JUST
CITY AND COUNTY BUT THE TOWNS
AND VILLAGES, STATE POLICE,
D.E.A.
WE HAD OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES
INVOLVED.
IF WE'RE GOING TO ATTACK THE
INFRASTRUCTURE, WE NEED TO
HAVE A CONSOLIDATED,
COORDINATED EFFORT.
IT'S A LONG PROCESS AND
SOMETIMES WE LOSE OUR
PATIENCE.
IT'S EASIER TO GO ARREST A
DEALER ON THE CORNER.
THE RESULTS ARE MORE VISIBLE.
WE NEED TO BE PATIENT; WE NEED
TO BE PERSISTENT, AND WE NEED
TO ADDRESS IT AT THAT LEVEL.
IT MAY NOT BE AS MANY ARRESTS,
BUT THEY WILL BE QUALITY
ARRESTS.
SO FROM YOUR QUESTION'S
PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT'S
THE ANSWER.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. VASILE.
>> I ALSO DO BELIEVE IN
EDUCATION, REHABILITATION.
COMMUNITY POLICING ALLOWS FOR
THAT.
WHEN YOU CONNECT COMMUNITIES,
YOU CONNECT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD
ORGANIZATIONS, THAT
RELATIONSHIP WILL ASSIST THAT.
IN SCHOOLS...
THE ENFORCEMENT END OF IT IN
THIS COUNTY HAS BEEN SPLIT
APART SO MUCH FOR SO LONG.
IN MY EARLY YEARS AS A
VICE-SQUAD OFFICER I WORKED
THE CASES THAT THE TASK FORCE
WORKED; I WORKED THE INTRICATE
PARTS ALONG WITH THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT AND THE D.E.A.
THEY HAVE SPLIT APART.
WE NEED TO TAKE A
COLLABORATIVE EFFORT ON IT.
WE NEED TO BRING EVERYONE
TOGETHER TO WORK ON THE
ENFORCEMENT END OF IT.
WE ALSO NEED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S
GRANTS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT'S FINANCES --
>> Elissa Marra: TEN SECONDS.
>> -- AND THEIR EQUIPMENT TO
HELP US ALONG THE WAY.
WE NEED TO WORK AT IT ALL
TOGETHER.
WE ALSO NEED TO ADDRESS SOME
OF THE ISSUES IN THE SMALL
VILLAGES AND TOWNS TO KEEP
THAT ENFORCEMENT UP.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. O'FLYNN.
>> THE ISSUE OF TRAFFICKING OF
DRUGS ALSO COUPLES WITH
TRAFFICKING OF GUNS, AND WE
HAVE REALIZED THAT.
SO WE WORK TOGETHER WITH THE
F.B.I., A.T.F. AND THE LOCAL
SHERIFF AND THE STATE POLICE.
WE FORMED A COMMITTEE THAT
WORKED OUT OF THE F.B.I.
OFFICE IN BUFFALO TO TRY TO
FIGURE OUT STRATEGIES TO
DETERMINE WHERE THE NETWORKING
OCCURRED.
WHERE IN THE COUNTRY ARE THE
GUNS AND DRUGS COMING FROM AND
HOW CAN WE STOP THAT?
WE FOUND THE THRUWAY WAS A BIG
ISSUE AND SOME OF IT WAS JUST
A PATHWAY RIGHT UP INTO TO
CANADA AND INTO TORONTO.
WE WORKED ON DEVELOPING
PROTOCOLS AND SUCH.
WE HAVE ALSO AT THE LOCAL
LEVEL WORKED BY COMBINING OUR
DRUG TASK FORCE WITH THE CITY
POLICE.
CHIEF DUFFY WORKED
COLLECTIVELY ON BEING ABLE TO
BUILD A VERY FUNCTIONAL UNIT
THAT NOT ONLY ADDRESSED THE
STREET-LEVEL ISSUES BUT ALSO
WORKED AT BUILDING THE CASES
TO ENSURE THAT YOU WOULD GET
THE SUPPLIERS.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
QUESTION NUMBER SEVEN COMES
FROM PATRICE WALSH OF
NewsSource 13.
PATRICE, COME TO THE
MICROPHONE.
>> WE HAVE HEARD A LOT ABOUT
POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS
RECENTLY AND I AM WONDERING
WHAT YOU THINK IS THE VALUE OF
THESE ENDORSEMENTS FOR YOU
PERSONALLY AND HOW MUCH VOTERS
SHOULD CONSIDER THESE
ENDORSEMENTS WHEN DECIDING
WHICH OF THE CANDIDATES TO
VOTE FOR?
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. FAGGIANO
GETS THE QUESTION FIRST.
>> I THINK BUSINESS
ENDORSEMENTS FROM BUSINESS
GROUPS ARE ABOUT BUSINESS.
PUBLIC SAFETY ENDORSEMENTS
THAT COME FROM PUBLIC SAFETY
GROUPS ARE ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY.
I THINK IN THIS RACE THE
ENDORSEMENTS I VALUE MOST ARE
THE ENDORSEMENTS OF THE RANK
AND FILE OF THE MONROE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT,
PATROLLING JAIL UNIT, THE
ROCHESTER POLICE LOCUST CLUB,
THE MONROE COUNTY FEDERATION
OF POLICE WHO REPRESENT
OFFICERS FROM THE TOWNS AND
VILLAGES, AND JUST THIS WEEK
WE WERE NOTIFIED THAT WE HAVE
BEEN ENDORSED BY THE POLICE
CONFERENCE OF NEW YORK THAT
REPRESENTS 25,000 POLICE
OFFICERS ACROSS THIS STATE
FROM LOCAL, CITY, COUNTY AND
STATE AGENCIES.
I THINK THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT
FOLKS HAVE SPOKEN ON THIS
ISSUE AS TO WHO THEY FEEL IS
THE MOST QUALIFIED INDIVIDUAL
TO LEAD THEIR ORGANIZATION.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT WE HAVE
RECEIVED THEIR ENDORSEMENT IN
THIS RACE.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. VASILE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION,
PATRICE.
IT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE
AS A THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATE, AN
INDEPENDENCE PARTY CANDIDATE,
I HAVE YET TO GET AN
ENDORSEMENT.
SO ONE OF THEM WOULD BE VERY
FAVORABLE FOR ME.
I BELIEVE ENDORSEMENTS OF ALL
TYPES ARE POLITICALLY
MOTIVATED.
THEY'RE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED
TO SUPPORT ONE OF THE MAJOR
PARTIES IN ANY RACE.
I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO TAKE
THAT INTO CONSIDERATION.
I THINK THE PEOPLE NEED TO
LOOK AT THE INDIVIDUALS, NOT
THEIR PARTIES, NOT THEIR PARTY
AFFILIATIONS, NOT WHERE THEIR
NAME IS ON THE LINE IN THE
BALLOT BOX, BUT AT THEM, HOW
SINCERE THEY ARE AND HOW
TRUTHFUL AND HONEST THEY ARE
IN WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR THEM.
THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE IN.
THANK YOU.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. O'FLYNN?
>> I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE
ENDORSED BY THE CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, THE REALTORS'
ASSOCIATION, THE ROCHESTER
AREA AUTO DEALERS ASSOCIATION,
THE C.S.A. EMPLOYEES WHO
REPRESENT THE RANK AND FILE OF
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AS WELL
AS THE MANAGEMENT TEAM IN THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE U.A.W.,
ALL OF THE ALLIED BUILDING
TRADES, THE LETTER CARRIERS,
THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS.
THESE ARE REPRESENTATIVES OF
NOT ONLY LARGE AND SMALL
BUSINESS BUT ALSO ORGANIZED
LABOR, AND THEY CAME OUT TO
SAY, "WE APPRECIATE AND WE
RESPECT THE WAY YOU DO YOUR
JOB AND THE WAY YOU RUN THAT
OFFICE."
AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING
TO BE REALLY PROUD OF.
SOME ENDORSEMENTS CAN BE
MISLEADING.
WE HAD OUR DEPUTIES, A VERY
SMALL NUMBER OF DEPUTIES WHO
WERE INVOLVED IN THE VOTING
PROCESS.
I HAVE HAD REPORTS BACK FROM
THE RANK AND FILE IN MY
COMMUNICATIONS WITH THEM THAT
AN OVERWHELMING NUMBER DO
ENDORSE ME.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. CALDWELL?
>> THE ENDORSEMENTS THAT I
RECEIVE COME FROM THE SMALL
PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY, THE GRASSROOTS
PEOPLE, THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE
BEEN LISTENING TO WHAT I'VE
BEEN SAYING, THE PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO SEE A CHANGE, THE
PEOPLE WHO WANT TO SEE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT TAKING
PLACE IN THEIR COMMUNITY, THE
PEOPLE WHO WANT PEOPLE TO
REACH OUT TO THEM AND COME
INTO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND ASK
THEM WHAT CAN THEY DO TO HELP?
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I
REACH TO AND THOSE ARE THE
PEOPLE REACHING BACK TOWARD
ME.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT I'M
REPRESENTING TODAY, THE PEOPLE
THAT DON'T HAVE A VOICE, THE
PEOPLE THAT WANT SOMEBODY TO
SPEAK UP FOR THEM.
THAT'S WHY I'M HERE TODAY, TO
ENDORSE THOSE PEOPLE.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM
DONALD SHINER, A "VOICE OF THE
VOTER" PANELIST.
HE'S COMING UP TO THE
MICROPHONE, AND WE'LL LET YOU
KNOW WHILE HE DOES THAT THAT
Mr. VASILE ANSWERS THE NEXT
QUESTION FIRST.
>> WHEN CONSIDERING THE NEEDS
OF THE COMMUNITY AFTER WE HAVE
BEEN INUNDATED WITH CAMPAIGN
LITERATURE TOUTING YOUR
ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND MAKING ALL
KINDS OF PROMISES, CAN YOU
ARTICULATE MORE SUCH AS DO YOU
HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE FOR
IMPROVING THE JAIL SUCH AS
IN-HOUSE MEDICAL SERVICE,
SAFER ENVIRONMENT FOR JAIL
PERSONNEL, MANDATORY EDUCATION
AND CLASSES FOR INMATES,
CONSIDERING THE STRAINED
SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT BUDGET
FOR 2002?
IF THE ABOVE PROGRAM PLAN
PROMISES ARE NOT KEPT, WOULD
YOU RESIGN?
THANK YOU.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I HAVE
BEEN VERY CAREFUL OVER THE
PAST TWO YEARS DURING THE
COURSE OF MY CAMPAIGN TO MAKE
ANY PROMISES AT ALL.
I BELIEVE I HAVE ARTICULATED
WHAT I REALLY FEEL AND THE
PRESSING ISSUES.
AS FAR AS THE JAIL MEDICAL
CONCERN, THAT'S ONE OF MY TOP
PRIORITIES.
I HAVE ALREADY ESTABLISHED A
PLAN FOR COMMUNITY POLICING,
INVOLVEMENT FROM THE
COMMUNITY.
I WILL DEVELOP COMMUNITY
ACTION TEAMS THAT WILL OVERSEE
ALL OF THE PROGRAMS AND
PROCESSES WITHIN THE JAIL.
THESE FOLKS WILL WORK ALONG
WITH THE SHERIFF, THE COMMAND
STAFF AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,
THE PROFESSIONALS THAT DO THE
WORK EVERY DAY, THOSE WORKERS
IN THE JAIL.
WE'LL EXTRACT INNOVATIVE IDEAS
FROM THEM AND THE COMMUNITY
AND BRING A COLLABORATIVE
EFFORT TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN
COME UP WITH INNOVATIVE IDEAS
AND NEW STRATEGIES.
WE NEED TO TAKE AND BRING THAT
MEDICAL FACILITY BACK TO THE
COUNTY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
ITSELF.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. O'FLYNN?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY
HOW PROUD I AM OF THE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO WORK FOR THE JAILS,
WORK IN OUR JAILS EVERY DAY.
IT'S A TOUGH JOB AND THEY DO
AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF BEING
ABLE TO COMMUNICATE AND MANAGE
THE INMATE POPULATION.
IT'S AN EVER-GROWING
POPULATION, BUT THEY STAND UP
TO THAT CHARGE AND THEY DO IT
VERY WELL.
THE COMMISSION OF CORRECTIONS
SETS THE STANDARDS FOR
STAFFING AND WE MEET THOSE
STANDARDS.
AS FAR AS THE MEDICAL ISSUE
GOES, WE HAVE MADE SOME
CHANGES IN THE MEDICAL
PROCESS, BROUGHT IN BECAUSE WE
COULDN'T GET NURSES WHEN WE
RAN THE MEDICAL STRICTLY AS A
COUNTY OPERATION.
BUT NOW WE ARE ABLE TO GET
NURSES AND WE HAVE JUST BEEN
INFORMED THAT WE WILL BE
RECEIVING THE ACCREDITATION
FROM THE NATIONAL COMMISSION
ON HEALTH CARE FOR
CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT
ISSUE, THAT THE MEDICAL IS
BEING LOOKED AT, THE MEDICAL
IS BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY, AND
THAT OUR ORGANIZATION IS
RUNNING VERY WELL.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. CALDWELL?
>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO BRING
IN THE MONROE COUNTY HEALTH
DEPARTMENT TO TAKE OVER THE
FACILITY AS FAR AS THE MEDICAL
IS CONCERNED AND AS FAR AS
EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL
TRAINING AND REHABILITATION,
WHICH PLAYS A VERY BIG PART IN
AN INMATE'S ABILITY TO COME
OUT AND DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT
WITH THEIR LIVES.
I THINK THE MEDICAL PLAYS A
BIG PART BECAUSE A LOT OF
PEOPLE FEEL THEY DON'T GET THE
RIGHT TREATMENT WHEN THEY GO
INTO A FACILITY, THAT PEOPLE
DON'T CARE AND THE STAFF
PARTICULARLY DON'T CARE.
WITH THE TRAINING THAT'S TAKEN
PLACE TODAY, I THINK A LOT OF
THOSE THINGS COULD BE
ALLEVIATED AND WE COULD HAVE
THE FACILITY TAKEN CARE OF
MEDICALLY, EDUCATIONALLY AND
VOCATIONALLY.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
AND Mr. FAGGIANO?
>> THE MONROE COUNTY JAIL MUST
BE A TOP PRIORITY, NOT ONLY
ACCREDITATION OF THE MEDICAL
SERVICE BUT ACCREDITATION OF
THE ENTIRE FACILITY.
THE RECORD IS POOR.
PEOPLE ARE DYING IN THE MONROE
COUNTY JAIL.
THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE.
EVEN AFTER THE NEW YORK STATE
COMMISSION OF CORRECTIONS
GIVES SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES TO
BE FOLLOWED TO PREVENT FUTURE
DEATHS, THEY STILL OCCUR
BECAUSE THOSE DIRECTIVES HAVE
NOT BEEN FOLLOWED IN THE PAST.
WE NEED TO ACCREDIT THE
FACILITY; WE NEED TO STAFF IT
PROPERLY, TO CREATE THE SAFEST
ENVIRONMENT FOR BOTH THE
INMATES AND THE BRAVE MEN AND
WOMEN WHO WORK THERE.
I AGREE WITH THE SHERIFF THAT
THE STAFF HAS DONE A
REMARKABLE JOB CONSIDERING THE
OBSTACLES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT
IN THEIR WAY IN PROVIDING A
SAFE ENVIRONMENT.
WE NEED TO REMOVE THOSE.
CIVILIAN OVERSIGHT OF THE JAIL
IS ONE OF THE THINGS I'M A
STRONG PROPONENT OF.
WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE
COMMUNITY TO OPEN THAT
FACILITY UP SO THAT WE CAN
CORRECT THE PROBLEMS THAT
EXIST THERE.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
OUR NEXT QUESTION COMES FROM A
"VOICE OF THE VOTER" PANELIST.
THIS IS JOHN CASSIN.
HE'S COMING TO THE MICROPHONE
NOW, AND Mr. O'FLYNN WILL
FIELD HIS QUESTION FIRST.
>> USE OF RACIAL PROFILING BY
POLICE AGENCIES IS AN ITEM
THAT IS CURRENTLY ON THE
AGENDA OF THE PUBLIC AND
ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOLVED WITH
THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM.
WE'LL OFTEN CONDEMN THE EVENTS
OF SEPTEMBER 11th AS CAUSING
SOME TO RE-EVALUATE THEIR
POSITION.
WHAT IS YOUR STANCE ON THE
SUBJECT AND HOW WILL YOU
ADDRESS IT AS ELECTED?
>> RACIAL PROFILING IS NOT
TOLERATED IN THE MONROE COUNTY
SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
YEARS AGO, WE HAD A PROTOCOL
IN PLACE, BACK IN THE
MID-'90s, THAT PROHIBITED
RACIAL PROFILING.
SINCE THEN, WE HAVE EXPANDED
IT TO ALSO INCLUDE ANY TYPE OF
DISCRIMINATION, BE IT FOR
RACE, BE IT FOR GENDER, BE IT
FOR AGE, BE IT FOR SEXUAL
ORIENTATION.
IT'S NOT TOLERATED.
WE HAVE A GREAT TRAINING
PROGRAM, BOTH ON THE
IN-SERVICE PROGRAMS AND IN THE
ENTRY-LEVEL WHEN PEOPLE ARE
GOING THROUGH THE ACADEMY, TO
BE AWARE AND SENSITIVE TO BOTH
RACIAL AND ANY TYPE OF
DISCRIMINATION ISSUES.
OUR INTERNAL AFFAIRS UNIT IS
IN PLACE TO ENSURE THAT ANY
TIME SOMEONE COMPLAINS THERE'S
MISCONDUCT, AND THIS BEING ONE
OF THEM, DISCRIMINATION, THEN
THEY AGGRESSIVELY INVESTIGATE
AND WE TAKE ACTION.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. CALDWELL?
>> RACIAL PROFILING IS BEING
DONE HERE IN MONROE COUNTY AND
SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE
ABOUT IT.
IT'S HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT
PARTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND IT'S HAPPENING
IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF
DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS IN
MONROE COUNTY.
IT'S A VERY SAD THING THAT IT
CONTINUES TO HAPPEN TODAY
BECAUSE IT AFFECTS A LOT OF
PEOPLE AND IT KEEPS A LOT OF
PEOPLE FROM STRIVING TO DO
ANYTHING WITH THEIR LIVES
BECAUSE IT STOPS THEM AT A
CERTAIN DEGREE.
SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS OPEN
UP THE DOOR FOR SOME EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY.
WE NEED TO OPEN UP THE DOORS
TO HAVE SOME OUTSIDE
ORGANIZATIONS COME IN AND TAKE
A REVIEW OF WHAT'S TAKING
PLACE IN A LOT OF THESE
DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
WE NEED NOT INVESTIGATE
OURSELVES ALL THE TIME; WE
NEED TO HAVE OUTSIDE
ORGANIZATIONS COME IN AND DO
SOME INVESTIGATION.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. FAGGIANO?
>> EVERY POLICE ADMINISTRATOR
IN MONROE COUNTY WILL TELL YOU
THEY DON'T ALLOW RACIAL
PROFILING IN THEIR AGENCIES.
WHAT DOESN'T EXIST IS A
WRITTEN POLICY THAT CAN BE
APPLIED IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.
I HAVE PROPOSED IN MY PLATFORM
A POLICY THAT WILL DEFINE WHAT
RACIAL PROFILING IS, THAT WILL
SET A PROTOCOL FOR EVERY
DEPUTY WHEN HE APPROACHES A
VEHICLE.
THIS WILL ELIMINATE FALSE
ACCUSATIONS AND ALSO SET THE
CRITERIA FOR WHEN WE CAN AND
WHEN WE CAN'T STOP SOMEONE.
THE BASIC RIGHTS WE HAVE AS
CITIZENS WE SHOULD NEVER
COMPROMISE.
WHETHER WE CALL IT CRIMINAL
PROFILING OR RACIAL PROFILING,
PROFILING IS ONE OF THOSE
WORDS LIKE "DISCRIMINATION."
NO MATTER WHAT IT'S PREFACED
WITH, IT'S ALWAYS WRONG.
WE NEED A POLICY FOR OUR
OFFICERS TO FILE; WE NEED TO
DEFINE THAT FOR THE COMMUNITY.
PROBABLE CAUSE AND REASONABLE
SUSPICION ARE THE STANDARDS
THAT HAVE BEEN SET UP IN OUR
JUSTICE SYSTEM TO STOP FOLKS.
THAT IS THE ONLY STANDARD WE
SHOULD NEED TO DO THAT.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. VASILE?
>> BEING A MEMBER OF THE
INTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICE IN MY
LAST FEW YEARS WITH THE
DEPARTMENT, WORKING UNDER
SHERIFF ANDY MELONI, I WAS ONE
OF THE LEADERS IN SOME OF
THOSE INVESTIGATIONS THAT
THESE FOLKS TALK ABOUT.
I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE
POLICIES; WE NEED TO HAVE
PROCESSES.
WE ALSO NEED TO DO TRAINING.
IN MY PLAN, DURING THE COURSE
OF MY CAMPAIGN, I SAW THAT
THIS WAS A MAJOR ISSUE WITH
SOME OF THE PEOPLE I TALKED
TO.
I REACHED OUT TO THE COMMUNITY
AND THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT
IT.
I BUILT INTO MY PLAN A
CONTINUOUS SENSITIVITY
TRAINING FOR EVERY PERSON IN
THE DEPARTMENT, ON A CONTINUAL
BASIS, NOT JUST A CLASS THAT
YOU GO TO FOR FOUR HOURS AND
THEN WE FORGET ABOUT IT FOR
THE NEXT THREE OR FOUR YEARS
UNTIL IT'S TIME TO ELECT THE
SHERIFF AGAIN.
WE NEED TO BUILD THAT INTO THE
DEPARTMENT, SENSITIVITY
TRAINING, AND LIKE I SAID
BEFORE, I'M A LEADER WHEN IT
COMES TO TEACHING POLICE
OFFICERS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY
ON THE SCIENCE OF
INTERVIEWING, INTERROGATION,
BUT WITH A TWIST OF RESPECTING
SOMEONE'S HUMAN DIGNITY AND
THEIR RIGHTS, THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND
WHERE THEY STAND IN THE
COMMUNITY.
AND I THINK THAT'S AN
IMPORTANT THING.
I THINK THAT POLICE OFFICERS
NEED TO BE TAUGHT ON A
CONTINUAL BASIS HOW TO
INTERACT WITH PEOPLE.
>> Elissa Marra: OUR NEXT
QUESTION COMES FROM WXXI-AM
1370.
MARK GIARDINA IS GOING TO ASK
OUR NEXT QUESTION AND
Mr. CALDWELL WILL ANSWER
FIRST.
>> HOW WOULD YOU RECRUIT MORE
WOMEN AND MINORITIES TO JOIN
THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT?
>> I THINK THAT'S A VERY GOOD
QUESTION BECAUSE THAT'S
SOMETHING I HAVE BEEN TALKING
ABOUT FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS
NOW, RECRUITING A LOT OF
DIFFERENT WOMEN, A LOT OF
DIFFERENT NATIONALITIES.
I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE AN
ONGOING PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN
ADVERTISE THAT WE'RE READY TO
OPEN UP THE DOORS FOR
MINORITIES AND WOMEN TO COME
INTO THE ORGANIZATION SO THEY
CAN BE A PART OF AND DO
SOMETHING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES
BECAUSE IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
THING FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE
SOMEONE THAT THEY CAN IDENTIFY
WITH WHEN SOMEONE'S COMING TO
THEIR AID, TO THEIR DOOR OR TO
ASSIST THEM.
IT'S AN IDENTIFICATION PROCESS
THAT TAKES PLACE SOMETIMES.
A LOT OF TIMES, PEOPLE IN THE
INNER CITY DON'T FEEL THAT
IDENTIFICATION SO THEY FEEL
OUTCAST.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
Mr. FAGGIANO?
>> WELL, I'M AN OBVIOUS
ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN IN POLICING
SINCE MY DAUGHTER IS A CITY OF
ROCHESTER POLICE OFFICER.
FOR TWO YEARS I HEADED THE
CITY OF ROCHESTER'S VOLUNTARY
COMPLIANCE WITH THE HIRING
(inaudible)
SO ALL OF THE STRATEGIES OF
RECRUITING OFFICERS,
RECRUITING FROM LOCAL CRIMINAL
JUSTICE COLLEGES, OF
RECRUITMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL
STUDENTS, I'M FAMILIAR WITH
ALL OF THOSE.
BUT WE SHOULD NEVER LOSE SIGHT
THAT THE FIRST OBLIGATION WE
HAVE IS TO INSPIRE YOUNG
MEMBERS OF THE MINORITY
COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY WITH AND
DESIRE TO BE MEMBERS OF THE
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
DEPARTMENT.
WE DO THAT THROUGH POSITIVE
INTERACTION WITH OUR
COMMUNITY.
ONCE THEY IDENTIFY WITH US AND
SAY, "I WANT TO BE A MONROE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY," THEN
WE MUST REMOVE THE BARRIERS
THAT SOME SAY ARE IRREMOVABLE.
THEN WE MUST MAKE OPPORTUNITY
AVAILABLE TO THOSE FOLKS SO
THAT WE CAN GET THEM INTO OUR
RANKS AND OUR DEPARTMENT CAN
BE REFLECTIVE OF THE DIVERSE
COMMUNITY THAT WE SERVE.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. VASILE.
>> I HAVE BUILT INTO MY PLAN
AN INCREASE IN MINORITY
EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT, AND IT STEMS FROM
COMMUNITY POLICING.
IF WE CONNECT WITH ALL OF THE
DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOOD
ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCHES AND
BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR
COMMUNITY, FIRST OF ALL, WE
INVOLVE COMMUNITY, AND THAT
WILL AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUE TO
RAISE THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF
THE DEPARTMENT.
FOLKS WILL BE INVOLVED, AND
WE'LL BE INVOLVED WITH THEM.
BY CONNECTING WITH ALL OF THE
CHURCHES AND ALL OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY OVER THE PAST TWO
YEARS, I HAVE SEEN A MAJOR
IMPORTANCE IN INCREASING THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE IT ONE
STEP FARTHER.
INVOLVED IN CIVIL SERVICE ALL
MY LIFE, I HAVE SEEN WHERE
SOME OF THE RESTRAINTS ON
CIVIL SERVICE DIMINISH THAT
ABILITY TO BRING DIFFERENT
DIVERSE ORGANIZATIONS.
I'LL WORK HARD AS THE SHERIFF
TO ALSO CONNECT WITH THE STATE
TO ADD FLEXIBLE MERIT
CRITERIA.
>> Elissa Marra: THAT'S YOUR
TIME.
WE HAVE TO MOVE ON.
Mr. O'FLYNN?
>> RECRUITING WOMEN AND
MINORITIES IS A PROBLEM THAT'S
BEING FACED BY EVERY LOCAL LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND STATE
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY OUT
THERE.
IT'S A PROBLEM, AND WE HAVE
BEEN TRYING TO ADDRESS IT IN
MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
ONE, WE HAVE INCREASED THE
WAGES AND RETIREMENT IN OUR
SYSTEM SO WE CAN COMPETE
COMPETITIVELY WITH THE OTHER
ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITY.
BUT I HAVE PERSONALLY WORKED
WITH THE CLERGY, WITH A.B.C.,
WITH THE IBERO-AMERICAN ACTION
LEAGUE TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE
PROGRAMS DEVELOPED TO INSPIRE
PEOPLE TO COME TO THE
SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND NOT FEEL
AS THOUGH IT'S AN ORGANIZATION
WHERE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE
WELCOME.
WE DEVELOPED A CADET PROGRAM
THAT WAS INITIATED AT EDISON
TECH AND NOW IT'S ROLLED OVER
INTO THE BOCES NEW VISIONS
PROGRAM TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG
INDIVIDUALS, MINORITY
INDIVIDUALS KNOW WHAT GOES ON
IN THE ORGANIZATION AND WILL
WANT TO COME AND WORK THERE.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
THANK YOU.
WE HAVE TIME FOR JUST ONE MORE
QUESTION NOW.
IT'S GOING TO BE ASKED BY
MICHAEL CAPUTO.
HE'S A POLITICAL REPORTER FOR
"THE DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
Mr. FAGGIANO WILL FIELD THIS
QUESTION FIRST.
>> IT'S BEEN A LONG CAMPAIGN.
THERE'S AN EXISTING RECORD;
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF
PROPOSALS MADE.
MY QUESTION TO THE FOUR OF YOU
IS WHAT EXISTING PROGRAM OR
PROPOSED CAMPAIGN IDEA DO YOU
DISAGREE WITH AND WHY?
>> WHAT DO I DISAGREE WITH?
ACTUALLY I THINK ALL OF THE
PROPOSALS PUT FORTH BY ALL OF
THE CANDIDATES ARE WELL
INTENTIONED.
I THINK THAT SOME ARE MORE
FEASIBLE AND CAN BE PUT IN
PLACE, BUT I THINK ALL THE
PROPOSALS -- IF THE GOAL IS
PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THIS
COMMUNITY, HOW CAN I DISAGREE
WITH ANY OF THEM?
I THINK THAT SOME CAN'T BE PUT
IN PLACE.
SOME HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY FOR
MANY YEARS TO BE PUT IN PLACE
AND HAVEN'T BEEN, SO I WOULD
QUESTION WHY NOT.
BUT I THINK THE MEN ON THIS
STAGE HAVE PUT FORTH WHAT THEY
SEE AS A VISION TO IMPROVE
SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND I
DON'T THINK ANYTHING THEY HAVE
SAID I WOULD DISAGREE WITH.
HOW IT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED,
THE FEASIBILITY, IT MIGHT BE
SOMETHING WHERE I WOULD SEE A
BETTER WAY, BUT I THINK THE
INTENTION PREVENTS ME FROM
SAYING THAT ANYTHING BROUGHT
FORWARD IN THIS RACE I TOTALLY
DISAGREE WITH.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. VASILE?
>> I TOO HAVE TO SAY THAT I
HARDLY DISAGREE WITH MUCH
OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I
HAVEN'T HEARD THE WORD
"COMMUNITY" A LOT.
I HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT ABOUT
INVOLVEMENT WITH COMMUNITY AND
I REALLY AND TRULY BELIEVE
THAT WHEN THE COMMUNITY IS
INVOLVED IN LAW ENFORCEMENT,
ACCOUNTABILITY RISES TO THE
CEILING AND THEIR OWNERSHIP
FOLLOWS THROUGH.
THEY FEEL A LOT SAFER WHEN
THEY GO HOME AT NIGHT.
IN LIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 11th, WE
NO LONGER FEEL THAT SAFENESS
THAT WE NEED TO FEEL WITHIN
OUR HOMES.
WE NO LONGER CAN PUT ASIDE
SOME OF THOSE ISSUES AND JUST
GO HOME AND LOCK OUR DOORS.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ALL
DONE A VERY GOOD JOB IN
EXPRESSING OURSELVES AND I
WOULD LIKE TO HEAR A LOT MORE
ABOUT COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. O'FLYNN
ANSWERS THE QUESTION NEXT.
>> DURING THE CAMPAIGN, AS THE
INCUMBENT, IT'S ALWAYS REALLY
TOUGH TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT
THERE AND CAMPAIGN AND NOT
EXPECT TO GET SHOTS BECAUSE
YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE WITH A
RECORD.
I DON'T THINK I DISAGREE WITH
ANY OF THE PROPOSALS BROUGHT
OUT BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE
WELL INTENTIONED AND FAIRLY
WELL THOUGHT OUT.
THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE A REAL
PROBLEM WITH ARE THE TACTICS
BEING USED.
I'M NOT A SEASONED POLITICIAN;
I'M A LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROFESSIONAL.
I'M OUT HERE; I KNOW HOW TO DO
THE JOB, AND I KNOW HOW TO
MAKE THIS COMMUNITY A SAFER
PLACE.
I HAVE BEEN DOING IT.
SO AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO SAY
THAT THERE'S SOME PROPOSAL
THAT IS JUST ABSOLUTELY ERRANT
OR INAPPROPRIATE, I WOULD HAVE
TO SAY NO.
BUT I THINK THAT TAKING THE
HIGH ROAD AND KEEP RUNNING A
CLEAN CAMPAIGN IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
AND Mr. CALDWELL?
>> DISAGREEMENTS, I DON'T
THINK THERE ARE ANY, BUT
CONFUSION MAYBE, JUST A LITTLE
BIT, IN THE WAY WE APPROACH
THINGS.
SOMEONE MENTIONED THE
COMMUNITY.
I THINK THE COMMUNITY PLAYS A
VERY IMPORTANT ROLE IN
WHATEVER WE DO.
COMING UP NEXT WEEK, I THINK
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE
GET THE COMMUNITY INVOLVED.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE GIVE PEOPLE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT WITH THEIR LIVES.
I THINK IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT
THING THAT WE IMPLEMENT
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS WHERE WE
COULD ACCEPT PEOPLE INTO OUR
DIFFERENT TRAINING PROGRAMS
AND LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OTHER
AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT.
I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT
THAT WE INVOLVE THE COMMUNITY
IN EVERYTHING THAT WE DO FROM
THIS DAY FORWARD.
>> Elissa Marra: ALL RIGHT.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR OUR CITIZEN QUESTIONS, BUT
WE HAVE EACH CANDIDATE WITH
THE ABILITY TO MAKE A CLOSING
STATEMENT.
WE'LL GIVE YOU EACH ONE MINUTE
AND THIRTY SECONDS TO MAKE
YOUR CLOSING STATEMENTS THIS
EVENING.
WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN AND THEN
CONTINUE WITH THE ROTATION,
BEGINNING WITH Mr. VASILE.
YOU HAVE A MINUTE AND 30
SECONDS FOR YOUR REMARKS.
>> THANK YOU.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK "THE
VOICE OF THE VOTER," WXXI AND
ALL THE OTHER NEWS MEDIA
PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN THIS AND THE CITIZENS, MOST
IMPORTANTLY.
IT'S COMING TO A CLOSE, AND I
CAN'T SAY THAT I'M SAD ABOUT
THAT BECAUSE WE PUT A LOT OF
WORK INTO THIS.
I HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING FOR
ALMOST TWO YEARS NOW TO TRY TO
GET MY MESSAGE OUT.
I'M A RETIRED SERGEANT FROM
THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.
I SPENT OVER 22 YEARS WITH THE
MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL FOUR
BUREAUS OF THE DEPARTMENT.
I BRING A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
AND UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS TO
MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT
IMMEDIATELY, NOT IN TWO YEARS,
NOT THE NEXT ELECTION BUT
IMMEDIATELY.
MY SENSE OF COMMUNITY I HAVE
PUSHED FROM THE BEGINNING.
I CONDUCTED A FACT-FINDING
MISSION IN THE BEGINNING AND
WENT TO YOU, THE CITIZENS, TO
FIND OUT JUST EXACTLY WHAT
CHANGES THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT
IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.
I MADE THAT PART OF MY
PACKAGE.
MY PLAN IS ON THE WEB AT
vasileforsheriff.com.
I WOULD LIKE EVERYONE TO TAKE
A LOOK AT IT.
BUT WHEN YOU GO TO THE POLLS
ON NOVEMBER 6th, PLEASE MAKE
SURE THAT -- THERE ARE FOUR
CANDIDATES HERE.
LOOK AT ALL FOUR CANDIDATES
AND THEIR BACKGROUND.
YOU CAN TELL WHO'S SINCERE IN
WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
I THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND GOD
BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. O'FLYNN
IS NEXT.
>> I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU
FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE
ABLE TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THE
COMMUNITY.
WHEN GOVERNOR PATAKI APPOINTED
ME TO THE POSITION OF SHERIFF,
I KNEW I WAS PREPARED TO SERVE
FROM DAY ONE BECAUSE OF THE
THINGS THAT I HAVE LEARNED
FROM MY 26 YEARS WITH THE
MONROE COUNTY SHERIFF'S
OFFICE, BEGINNING WITH MY
APPOINTMENT TO THE ROAD
PATROL, AS A DEPUTY AND THEN
RIGHT ON THROUGH AND
CULMINATING WITH 13 YEARS OF
WORKING AS THE UNDERSHERIFF,
THE NUMBER TWO, TO SHERIFF
ANDY MELONI.
BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS A
LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONAL,
I HAVE DEVELOPED A PLATFORM
THAT WILL WORK AS A FRAMEWORK
OF MY ADMINISTRATION.
I WILL BE INCREASING COMMUNITY
POLICING INITIATIVES,
EXPANDING CO-OPERATIVE EFFORTS
BETWEEN THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE
AND THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES.
ONE OF THE EXAMPLES IS THE
JOINT DRUG TASK FORCE
ESTABLISHED WITH MY FRIEND BOB
DUFFY.
WE HAVE BEEN VERY EFFECTIVE IN
THAT AREA.
I WILL FOCUS ON THE PROBLEM OF
DRUGS AND DRUG-RELATED CRIME,
WITH A COMPREHENSIVE
THREE-PRONGED APPROACH OF
ENFORCEMENT, EDUCATION AND
TREATMENT.
WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES
IN THIS COMMUNITY TO MAKE IT A
BETTER AND SAFER PLACE FOR
EVERYBODY BUT ESPECIALLY FOR
OUR KIDS, SO I WOULD BE
PLEASED IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME
IN THIS EFFORT AND I WOULD BE
HONORED IF YOU WOULD SUPPORT
ME WITH YOUR VOTE ON ELECTION
DAY.
THANK YOU ALL AND MAY GOD
BLESS YOU.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. CALDWELL?
>> I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL
OF YOU FOR GIVING ME THIS
OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT MY
ISSUES TO YOU TODAY.
IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL
EXPERIENCE.
I DON'T HAVE THE EXPERIENCE
THAT THESE GENTLEMEN HAVE AS A
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
MY BACKGROUND IS TOTALLY
DIFFERENT.
MY BACKGROUND SOMETIMES PUSHES
PEOPLE AWAY FROM ME BECAUSE
SOMETIMES PEOPLE ARE NOT
WILLING TO GIVE AN EX-OFFENDER
OR ANYONE ELSE WHO MADE SOME
MISTAKES IN THEIR LIFE A
SECOND CHANCE.
BUT I'M HERE TODAY TO LET YOU
KNOW THAT PEOPLE DO CHANGE AND
THINGS CAN CHANGE, AND WE NEED
TO CONSIDER A LOT OF DIFFERENT
THINGS WHEN WE LOOK AT PEOPLE
FROM THE OUTSIDE-IN.
TODAY I'M WILLING TO ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHATEVER I
DID IN THE PAST AND MOVE ON
AND GO ON WITH MY LIFE.
I BELIEVE THAT MY SINCERITY
AND MY DEDICATION WOULD BE AN
ASSET TO THIS COMMUNITY AS FAR
AS ANYTHING THAT I WOULD DO
WITH THE REST OF MY LIFE.
I THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY.
AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
>> Elissa Marra: Mr. FAGGIANO.
>> THANK YOU AND THANKS TO
"THE VOICE OF THE VOTERS" FOR
GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
I'VE SAID THROUGHOUT THIS
CAMPAIGN THAT THIS RACE, MORE
THAN ANY OTHER, IS MUCH MORE
IMPORTANT THAN PARTISAN
POLITICS.
IT'S ABOUT YOUR SAFETY AND THE
SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY.
AS YOU LISTENED THIS EVENING,
THERE WAS ONE COMMON THREAD
AMONGST ALL OF THE CANDIDATES
HERE, INCLUDING THE APPOINTED
SHERIFF, AND THAT WAS THE NEED
FOR CHANGE IN THE MONROE
COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
I PROPOSE TO YOU THAT BASED ON
MY LOCAL EXPERIENCE, BASED ON
MY NATIONAL EXPERIENCE, BASED
ON MY RECORD OF 30 YEARS IN
THIS COMMUNITY, WORKING WITH
THIS COMMUNITY TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS, THAT I AM THE
CANDIDATE THAT CAN BEST SERVE
THIS COMMUNITY IN THAT MODE.
THE MEN AND WOMEN OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT IN THIS COMMUNITY
HAVE SPOKEN.
EVERYONE HAS TALKED LATELY OF
THE JOB THEY DO.
THE FIREFIGHTERS OF THIS
COMMUNITY HAVE SPOKEN.
THOSE FOLKS THAT PUT THEIR
LIVES ON THE LINE EVERY DAY
HAVE SENT A MESSAGE TO THIS
COMMUNITY THAT VINCE FAGGIANO
IS THE PERSON MOST QUALIFIED
TO BE THE NEXT SHERIFF.
PLEASE HEED THAT MESSAGE.
THANK YOU.
GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU, AND
DON'T FORGET TO GET OUT THERE
NOVEMBER 6th.
I ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.
GOOD NIGHT.
>> Elissa Marra: THANK YOU,
GENTLEMEN.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE
FOR TONIGHT'S DEBATE.
PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO READ
ABOUT THE DEBATE IN TOMORROW'S
"DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE"
NEWSPAPER.
YOU CAN ALSO LOOK FOR COVERAGE
OF THE SHERIFF'S RACE AND ALL
THE OTHER RACES ON NewsSource
13, ON WXXI TV, AND ON WXXI
RADIO.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL
THE CANDIDATES FOR BEING HERE,
AND I WOULD ESPECIALLY LIKE TO
THANK OUR "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
CITIZEN PANEL.
OUR "VOICE OF THE VOTER"
CITIZENS PUT IN A LOT OF TIME
ON THEIR OWN STUDYING THE
ISSUES, BOTH FOR THIS DEBATE
AND THE MAYORAL DEBATE WE DID
EARLIER.
THEY DO A LOT OF THIS WORK ON
THEIR OWN TIME AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE ALL YOUR
THOUGHTFULNESS AND YOUR
WILLINGNESS TO COME OUT AND BE
WITH US THIS EVENING.
ALSO, WE WOULD LIKE TO REMIND
YOU, AS OUR CANDIDATES DID,
THAT NOVEMBER 6th IS ELECTION
DAY.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL GET OUT
AND VOTE.
WE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO VOTE
AND OF COURSE WE ENCOURAGE
EVERYONE TO READ OR WATCH OR
LISTEN TO COVERAGE ON ELECTION
NIGHT ON WXXI TV AND RADIO, ON
NewsSource 13 AND IN "THE
DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE."
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
HAVE A GREAT EVENING.
(Music)