The debate over the potential dissolution of the Waterloo Police Department has escalated, with law enforcement leaders voicing their support for keeping the department intact while village officials consider alternatives.
The situation emerged after the Waterloo Policeman’s Association revealed that village officials were exploring the possibility of eliminating the police department, which has served the community for nearly a century. The proposal, which surfaced despite a new four-year contract agreement reached in December, has alarmed officers and residents alike.
In response, Seneca County Sheriff Timothy J. Thompson Jr. issued a statement reaffirming his opposition to reducing or eliminating the Waterloo Police Department. “As Sheriff, I will never support the reduction or elimination of a law enforcement agency,” he wrote. “Public safety can never be compromised.”
Thompson acknowledged that village officials have difficult decisions to make regarding financial concerns but emphasized that any decision must fully consider its impact on the community. He confirmed that he had brief discussions with Mayor Walter Bennett about hypothetical models for sheriff’s office coverage but stressed that no agreements or commitments had been made.
Support for the police department has also come from neighboring law enforcement agencies. In a letter dated March 20, Seneca Falls Police Chief Timothy A. Snyder expressed his department’s strong backing of the Waterloo Police Department, emphasizing its importance to the village’s public safety.
“For nearly a century, the dedicated officers of the Waterloo Police Department have faithfully served this community,” Snyder wrote. “Their presence in the community has been invaluable, providing local, responsive, and dedicated law enforcement services tailored to the unique needs of the Village of Waterloo.”
The Waterloo Police Department has reported an increasing demand for services, responding to 7,115 incidents in 2024—up from 5,504 the previous year. Officers currently maintain an average response time of two to three minutes per call, a statistic the union argues could be jeopardized if the department is dissolved.
As discussions continue, both the sheriff’s office and the Seneca Falls Police Department have pledged their support to the Waterloo officers and the community. The Waterloo Policeman’s Association has urged residents to voice their concerns to village officials, while no formal decision has yet been announced.
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