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SYRACUSE - An anonymous letter complaining about the Syracuse police published in an area newspaper in November created a small firestorm at the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday.
The writer of the letter later filed a complaint with town manager Brian Redshaw on Jan. 5. Pam Harman, the complainant, was at the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday but the meeting lasted 3-1/2 hours and Harman could not stay that long so she left before she had an opportunity to say anything to the council.
Harman's initial anonymous letter, in part, to the area paper says, "Thanksgiving Day, my 16-year-old son and I were in Syracuse following a town officer. We witnessed him roll a stop sign, then speed out of town on Syracuse-Milford road. I know he was speeding as I was very careful to obey the speed limit.
"I understand when officers are on an official call, sirens and lights are not required. What example does this set for young drivers? How do I explain to my son the importance of following the rules of driving and safety when we (observed) an officer driving in an unacceptable manner? If the officer was on an official call, why was he out of the town's limit? Isn't this why we have county officers?
"I intend to file a report with the Syracuse Police Department and mail a copy to present and incoming town board members. The police department in our town is getting out of hand, almost to the point of intimidation and harassment."
Council president Larry Siegel asked town marshal Tom Perzanowski how he addressed the issue.
Perzanowski said he had no chance to reply to Harman's complaint until he read it in the area newspaper. He then addressed it to each of his officers individually and then to them as a group. Since he did not have any information on who the officer allegedly was, he couldn't address an individual officer. All officers were told that what occurred was unacceptable behavior.
If there was any way to identify the officer, Perzanowski said they would be disciplined. He said he encouraged anyone in the community with a complaint against a police officer to come see him. All complaints are documented, though some people make complaints but don't want to put them in writing.
"Just come to the police department and file a complaint," Perzanowski said.
He said Harman's letter claimed police behavior was getting out of hand to the point of intimidation and harassment. But, he said, there was no interaction between her and an officer. Where did that accusation come from? If someone has a complaint, he said he would like for that person to come to him so he can respond.
"To this day," Perzanowski said, "the woman hasn't talked to me."
His regular office hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. but he said he usually is at the police station.
If a person files a complaint, they don't have to fill out the form themselves. Perzanowski said an officer can fill out the form for them.
Siegel repeatedly asked what the process is for someone to file a complaint as he said Harman tried to file a complaint with the police, but ended up complaining to town manager Brian Redshaw and himself before Redshaw filled out the complaint form for her.
Councilman Cassie Cowan said if a person has a complaint, they should take it to the department where the complaint stems from.
"If you have a complaint with Kmart, would you call Wal-Mart?" Cowan said.
Former councilwoman Carol Koble said writing a anonymous letter to an area newspaper was a cowardly way of doing things, especially when it brings shame to a department or person.
