Hiring off-duty police officers to protect the Village of Churchville against vandalism could cost thousands of dollars each month, but Churchville Mayor Donald R. Ehrmentraut told village trustees it would be money well-spent.

"The villagers deserve that," Ehrmentraut said at the June 4 village board meeting. "We need to be proactive, to do something. We have not put a lot of money into security."

Ehrmentraut said he contacted a local firm, C.O.P.S. (Contract Off-duty Police Security) which was recommended to him by Churchville-Chili Central School District Assistant Superintendent Ralph E. Smith. For $20.50 per hour, the firm supplies an off-duty police officer, fully insured, to patrol the village. The village would provide, or reimburse, the vehicle and gas expenses.

The village's new municipal building, which has already experienced losses due to vandalism, would be one area the officer would be asked to patrol, along with the department of public works building, the municipal parking lot on South Main Street, the sewer plant, and other problem areas.

Ehrmentraut said he will contact the Riga Town Board to see if officials there would be interested in sharing part of the cost to have town property protected as well. Riga's new Sanford Road Park has been vandalized several times.

Trustee Nancy Steedman questioned the need for security. "Don't we have insurance? Any damage that should happen on our property would be covered," she said.

Ehrmentraut agreed, but said the recent spate of vandalism to the United States Post Office and the new municipal building reflects poorly on the village. "If it happens again I think it reflects poorly on trustees not taking proper precautions," he said. "I think this is a worthwhile investment."

Village Attorney James Fitzsimmons cautioned board members about potential legal problems. "I am probably the only one who was here when we last had our own police force in the village ... it was nothing but a problem." He said the village could be held responsible for things like false arrests. "You need to be careful we don't send someone out there who is a vigilante," Fitzsimmons said.

Ehrmentraut said he would like to give it a three-month trial, which would cover the summer months and protect the new municipal building during construction. Trustees agreed it should be considered, and Ehrmentraut said he would investigate further, getting estimates from other companies, and report at the next village board meeting, June 18.

Trustee Dean Arlidge said he would solicit proposals for the installation of surveillance cameras at key points throughout the village. New York State Troopers attending last month's board meeting recommended the cameras, and said arrests could be made from captured images.