Editor’s Note: The following is a letter to the editor submitted by the Seneca Falls Police Benevolent Association. If you have a letter to the editor or op-ed you’d like published on FingerLakes1.com, send it to [email protected].
An Open Letter to the Seneca Falls Community,
On November 6, 2025 at the monthly Seneca Falls Town Board meeting the proposed town budget for 2026 was unveiled to the public by the town supervisor. In shock and awe to many were the cuts to essential town services, including the police department. The proposed 2026 calls for reduction in the current police force staffing levels by the removal of 2 current employed part-time officers and 2 full-time officers as well as reducing the 2 currently employed full-time staff resource assistants to one full-time position and one part-time position to be shared with the local town court. Even with the cuts in town services, the proposed budget would still see taxes increase for the local town taxpayers. The proposed budget also included pay raises for certain positions with varying degrees without a justification for these varying pay raise amounts while others are not receiving a raise at all. It is evident that this budget and the proposed cuts to certain town services were completed without the knowledge of the full town board membership as witnessed by the reactions and statements made by certain board members after this information was made public knowledge.
This is yet another demonstration of a pattern of the lack of transparency that has been present since the current Town Supervisor, Frank Schmitter, and Deputy Town Supervisor, Frank Sinicropi have been in office together. Certain town board members have openly expressed during multiple town board meetings their concerns that the supervisor and deputy supervisor have been conducting business on behalf of the town without advising the remaining board members and controlling the dissemination of information to the remaining town board members, bringing board members into the discussions later in the hopes of securing a majority vote on resolutions without providing full disclosure of details.
While Supervisor Schmitter ran a campaign with the promise of instilling trust in local government and complete transparency, it is yet again evident that is not so. No budget workshops with town department heads were completed when preparing the proposed 2026 budget, a common practice that has served the town well in years past, as it provides the opportunity for department heads to explain and justify their budget proposals to the town board members. Amendments to budgets to either increase or decrease them based on current needs throughout the town are considered by all board members and department heads during the workshops. PBA Leadership is aware that the 2026 proposed budget for the police department made public on November 6, 2025 is not the same as the one that was submitted by the Seneca Falls Chief of Police Timothy Snyder prior to that meeting date.
Chief Snyder’s proposed budget included the creation of another detective’s position specifically focused on narcotics enforcement and related investigations, a position that was supported by town board members. Across the nation over the past few years, narcotics-related crimes (sales, possession and crimes associated with them including robberies, assaults and burglaries) have increased and Seneca Falls has seen this increase as well. To combat this, Chief Snyder had designated one patrol officer be placed on temporary assignment for narcotics enforcement. This was done without increasing the budget or adding any positions to the police department. The results have been positive and impactful throughout the community. Through clear statistics provided to town board members since the officer was temporarily assigned in July 2024, it has demonstrated how vital it is to have a permanent position within the police department focused on narcotics enforcement. However, once the temporary assignment is completed, this officer, by law, must resume patrol duties and cannot remain on temporary assignment conducting narcotics investigations.
Along with this devastating loss of service, the removal of 4 police officer positions, 2 part-time and 2 full-time, and a reduction in our staff resource assistants would also be equally devastating to the police department and the residents of the Town of Seneca Falls. Public safety is the top priority for all members of the Seneca Falls Police Department. Town Police officers average 3-4 minutes in response times for priority complaints handled while patrolling an area of 27.4 square miles. In addition to that, the Seneca Falls Police Department handled the most calls for service throughout Seneca County in 2024 alone. This is in part due to the adequate coverage as provided by the current patrol staffing levels. A reduction in those staffing levels will include delayed response times, increase in officer burnout and fatigue and an increase in overtime costs to offset the loss in personnel. These are serious concerns, as officers may look to seek employment elsewhere lest they become next on the chopping block. In light of staffing concerns, Supervisor Schmitter was asked directly if he saw employees as “just a number,” to which he replied that he did and has repeatedly stated that if employees wish to leave they are free to do so. Statements and answers like this from elected officials in town government, especially from one whose professional background is in law enforcement, serving as both a New York State Trooper and later a part-time investigator for the Seneca County District Attorney’s Office, are alarming to hear. When a person, specifically a police officer, leaves the department it is an investment lost and one that the town cannot get back. A reduction in services and personnel will only serve to increase the risk of harm to residents and negatively impact public safety.
Despite these concerns noted, this letter is also an assurance to the public that our officers will continue to serve this community with the same honor and distinction that has made this department respected and appreciated by so many residents throughout this community. Your safety and security are always the top priority of the members of the SFPBA.
Should you have any concerns and wish to share them with the town board members, the PBA would ask that you contact your local board members at the following email addresses listed here: Town Supervisor Frank Schmitter ([email protected]), Councilman/Deputy Town Supervisor Frank Sinicropi ([email protected]), Councilman Jackson Puylara ([email protected]), Councilwoman Dawn Dyson ([email protected]), and Councilwoman Kaitlyn Laskoski ([email protected]).
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