Troy’s mayor, police chief announce new crime fighting citizen partnership

Troy’s mayor and police chief touted Monday morning what they say are big public safety improvements. Now they’re asking for the public to help them.

New data shows dozens of arrests made this year, including felonies and misdemeanors. Illegal drugs, handguns and stolen cars were also recovered, police said.

“I really want to thank all the uniformed officers, our police department. They have stepped up to the plate two-fold,” Mayor Carmella Mantello said.

Mantello also said she’s proud of how the community has taken a role in fighting crime.

“More people are turning in tips,” said the mayor. “Folks who are every day just out on the streets, they see illegal activity, whether it be in their alleyways, whether it be, next door neighbors.”

Under the program, Troy police will help neighbors and businesses set up their security cameras in the best possible position to deter and investigate crime.

“We were finding that many times people, out of no fault of their own, really didn’t know how to set up their cameras properly or didn’t know how to use them,” Troy Police Chief Dan DeWolf said.

The city is also working to get a director of code enforcement up to speed.

Meanwhile, police are also trying to fill 10 or 11 open positions at the police department.

“The exam is Sept. 28, so please show up and, hopefully study hard and, and then you do well on that exam,” DeWolf said.

However, he reiterated in his opinion the city is heading in the right direction.

“I’m very happy with our violent crime numbers. Our shootings or shots fired all down, down, down,” said DeWolf.

“We promise the folks of Troy, the people of Troy, the residents that we’re going to do everything humanly possible to keep our streets safer,” said Mantello.