Chester to get police protection, 24/7

Chester — Town of Chester residents will be getting the full-time police protection they’ve been wanting for years. The town police department does not work at night. This has frightened many residents who say they are simply not comfortable having the state police, who do not know their neighborhoods as well as the local police do, fill in at night when crime is high. Chester officials agreed last week to phase in full-time protection. The first phase, to begin Jan. 1, 2006, will give 24-hour police coverage on three days of the week, probably over the weekends, said town supervisor Bill Tully. Then, in 2007, the schedule will extend to 24-hour coverage seven days a week. The phase-in is to “minimize the impact on taxpayers,” Tully said. The first phase will cost $90,000 and cover the cost of salaries, uniforms, gas mileage, and overtime. The town will hire two more part-time officers and one full-timer. The second phase will include the hiring of two more full-time officers, Tully said. He said did not yet know what the second phase will cost.