Westfield Police conducting survey

WESTFIELD — The recently formed Westfield Community and Police Collaborative Committee is seeking community involvement to help address the particular needs of the community and promote community engagement.

The committee was appointed by the Westfield Village Board to comply with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Executive Order 203. The committee has met several times to begin to look at current police policy and develop an outline for a plan to meet the guidelines of that executive order. The committee has developed a website to show transparency and allow for community feedback. The website mayormike5.wixsite.com/policereform lists committee members and their emails that can be used to offer feedback. At the bottom of the first webpage is a form to submit suggestions and a phone number (326-4961).

The committee’s desire is to foster trust, fairness, and legitimacy, and address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of neighborhoods. State guidelines call for this collaborative process to:

¯ Review the needs of the community served by its police agency

¯ Evaluate the department’s current policies and practices

¯ Establish policies that allow police to effectively and safely perform their duties

¯ Involve the entire community in the discussion

¯ Develop policy recommendations resulting from this review

¯ Offer a plan for public comment

¯ Present the plan to the local legislative body to ratify or adopt it.

The committee has identified some opportunities for changes and recognized the value of the Westfield Police Department. In order to ensure the community is represented in this discussion, consider filling out the form on the website with comments and suggestions. The comments and suggestions will be kept confidential and utilized in creating a plan that will best meet the needs of the community now and into the future.

Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office Police Department

¯ RIPLEY — Ian O. Gates, 40, of Ripley, was charged with first-degree burglary, fourth-degree criminal mischief, third-degree assault and obstruction of breathing or blood circulation. Deputies responded at 7:41 p.m. Tuesday to Route 76 in the town of Ripley for a reported altercation. An investigation found that Gates allegedly entered a residence unlawfully and engaged in an altercation with another person. t is alleged during the altercation Gates made unwanted physical contact with the subject and subsequently caused damage to property not belonging to him. He is scheduled to appear in Ripley Town Court later.

¯ FREDONIA — A 19-year-old male was charged with driving while intoxicated, DWI per and driving the wrong way around a circular intersection. Deputies at 1:34 a.m. on Dec. 6 observed a vehicle begin to drive the wrong way around the roundabout at the intersection of routes 60 and 20 in Fredonia. The youth was taken into custody following an investigation and is scheduled to appear in Fredonia Village Court later.

¯ SILVER CREEK — Martin J. Schenk, 32, of Silver Creek, was charged with second-degree harassment, fourth-degree criminal mischief and third-degree criminal mischief. Deputies were called to routes 5 and 20 in Silver Creek for a reported disturbance at a residence. It was learned that Schenk allegedly had unwanted contact with another person and prevented them from calling for help. Schenk also allegedly destroyed property. He was transported to Chautauqua County Jail for centralized arraignment and is scheduled to appear in Hanover Town Court to answer the charges.