Lyons Police Lyons NY, New York, Wayne County

LYONS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Wayne County, NY
Michael R. Donalty, Chief of Police

72 William Street
Lyons, New York 14489
(315) 946-4151 FAX: (315) 946-3149

Press Releases

NEW ADDITIONS AT LYONS PD
22 July 2010

The Lyons Police Department selected the annual Peppermint Days parade to introduce two new additions to the Department. The Department’s parade contingent included the introduction of the newly-formed Police Department Honor Guard, a four-member squad that will represent the Village and its Police Department at various formal ceremonies and funerals. The purchase of the flags and related parade equipment utilized by the LPD Honor Guard was made possible by donations from the American Legion Post #227 in Lyons. The Police Department also rolled out the newest addition to its fleet of vehicles – a 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe special service vehicle, which replaces a six year old Dodge Durango. The four-wheel drive Tahoe will be especially useful in patrolling the Village in the winter months, and will carry specialized crime scene and rescue equipment. Over fifty percent of the cost of the $30,000-plus vehicle was defrayed by a Federal Justice Assistance Grant, and an upgraded lighting and visibility package was purchased with a $3,000 donation received from local business Empire Merchants North.

**See photo page for additional information
CRIME IN LYONS AT LOWEST LEVEL IN YEARS

According to the Lyons Police Department’s Annual Report for 2009, the incidence of serious crime in the Village of Lyons has declined to a new level, the lowest since the turn of the century. In a report submitted earlier this week to the Village Board by Lyons Police Chief Michael R. Donalty, Index Crimes, or serious crimes reported annually to the FBI for statistical analysis, dropped 26% from 2008, and over 80% from the five year high of 296 in 2006. By comparison, the Statewide decrease in Index Crimes for 2000 through 2008 (the most recent available) was 26%. The total number of all crimes reported in Lyons in 2009 also decreased by 14.5% to 958, down from 1120 in 2008. Total complaints handled by the Police Department for the year increased by 13%, from 6659 to 7518.

Lyons Police Chief Michael R. Donalty attributes much of the decrease to the hiring of four new police officers mid-year, as well as the introduction and continuation of innovative crime reduction and prevention programs and initiatives in the Village, many of them grant-funded. “For the first time in several years, we’ve had the manpower to be proactive in our policing strategy, rather than just reacting to the many calls for service,” said Chief Donalty. “We’ve also been fortunate to be on the receiving end of several grant programs over the past few years that have given us the tools and technology to be more efficient and effective, at minimal cost to the taxpayers.” Donalty cited the success of the State’s Operation IMPACT Tools Initiative drug enforcement program and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee’s traffic enforcement programs as contributing to their crime-fighting efforts. “We utilized the tools made available to us to accomplish the number one goal of these projects – to reduce the instance of crime in our community, as well as the perception of crime,” said Donalty. Chief Donalty also credited the efforts of the Wayne County Narcotics Enforcement Team’s (WayneNET) multi-agency approach to drug enforcement as having an impact on the falling crime rate. “Many of these crimes are directly correlated to the scourge of drug abuse in our communities, and WayneNET has been instrumental in reducing the number of drug dealers and abusers throughout the County,” Donalty stated.

Donalty also acknowledged that the community at large is also responsible in part for the decrease in the crime rate, as they have become more aware of the need to partner with the police in identifying and reporting crime. “We’re partnering with such groups as the Lyons PAC-TAC (Police and Citizens Together Against Crime) and the Lyons Main Street Program to attack the perception of crime at its lowest level, to make a safer environment for all our residents and visitors, and we look forward to working with all our partners in 2010 to further improve our community,” said Donalty. Donalty stated that he will be working on sharing services with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies in the County to provide even more quality public safety services in a cost-effective manner in 2010. “No one wants to see their taxes increase any more than they already have, but they do want and deserve the best possible police protection their tax dollars can buy,” said Donalty. “We’re committed to providing these services in the best possible and fiscally-responsible way we can.”

LYONS POLICE HISTORY
07 April 2008

The Lyons Civic Club featured an article about the former police station on Pearl Street in their most recent newsletter. Follow the link to read more: Lyons Police Station 1934 . Credit and thanks to Andi Evangelist for her contribution.

ATTENTION PARENTS:
IMPORTANT SAFETY MESSAGE

The members of the Lyons Police Department want to keep our children safe and healthy, and ask for your assistance in doing the same. New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, Section 1238, requires that ALL children between the ages of one and fourteen MUST wear an approved helmet, securely fastened upon the head while operating any bicycle, scooter or skateboard. There has recently been a noticeable increase in the number of children throughout the Village that are operating these without the benefit of a helmet. The law holds the parent(s) responsible for insuring that their child(ren) comply with this requirement, and allows the police to issue a traffic summons to the parent for any violation(s). In the interest of the childs safety, the Lyons Police Department will aggressively enforce the Child Helmet Law, and ask for your cooperation by insisting that your child(ren) always wear their helmet. Thank you for your cooperation.