By Jake Palmateer
Staff Writer
June 10, 2009 04:00 am LAURENS _ More than 75 Laurens area residents met with law enforcement and elected officials Tuesday night to discuss criminal behavior in the village and town and what can be done about it. Laurens Mayor Robert Zack said the village is a great place to live. But Zack said the village and town of Laurens began experiencing problems with vandalism and other crimes about three years ago, and they haven't abated. The village is considering a curfew, he said. Recent incidents reported by residents _ but not necessarily to police _ have included the shearing of hair from the tails of miniature horses, someone holding a gun to the head of a man on Main Street and a break-in, Zack said. Residents at the meeting said they have been shot at by BB guns, harassed, threatened, had their horse pitchforked and have had property stolen or vandalized. They also reported that teenagers and pre-teens trespass at will. Others said drug-related crimes, including the theft of prescription pills from homes, are occurring in the village and town. "I've got a feeling something bad is brewing, and I want to stop it," Zack said. Zack, county Rep. Kathy Clark, R-Otego, Otsego County Sheriff Richard Devlin, Undersheriff Cameron Allison and Sgt. Marc Barbera of the state police at Oneonta urged residents to report illegal activity. Zack said the village has had a neighborhood watch, but some of the participants wanted to participate in it anonymously. "Anonymous doesn't help us," Zack said. Clark said the village had considered hiring some form of law enforcement, but said she was advised the county already has coverage for Laurens. "We have two very competent and very good law enforcement agencies right here that you are already paying for," Clark said. But some residents expressed frustration about past dealings with law enforcement. Devlin urged the residents that if they are not satisfied with the initial response from troopers or deputies, they should contact a superior. Devlin said there is an average of three calls a month handled in Laurens by deputies, and those figures would indicate there isn't a problem in the community. "Apparently, that's not the case," Devlin said. Devlin encouraged the residents to report illegal activity. "A lot of what the mayor spoke about, our agencies are unaware of," Devlin said. Barbera also said it is important for residents to be good witnesses. Zack said some residents don't feel safe at night. "I'm glad to see such a big turnout, because we need to get everybody together to find some sort of solution," Zack said. The village is working on a curfew to deal with some of the problems, he said. "The problem is enforcing it," he said.
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Photos
Laurens Mayor Robert Zack addresses the audience in the all-purpose room at Laurens Central School on Tuesday.