Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen doesn't like this blog

In particular, he didn't like this post from last month and he told the City Council (and anyone else watching last night's meeting) during their meeting that he was "surprised and disappointed" by it.

The post was about Mathiesen's campaign against the late-night chaos of Caroline Street, which he argues can be mitigated by rolling back last call to 3 a.m. from 4 a.m.

It was a failed effort and I said so. I don't think that's up for dispute. It barely made it out of the City Council and It didn't make it out of the committee at the county level (where any change to last call would ultimately have to be decided).

As I pointed out in the blog post, I thought Mathiesen's campaign to change last call was over until the March 19 City Council meeting when he brought it up again under an agenda item labeled: "Lawlessness after 4 a.m." 

He called me last week upset about the post. He accused me of being in the pockets of Caroline Street businesses ("I know The Saratogian gets a lot of advertising from Caroline Street") and of constantly criticizing his efforts.

First off, he is just plain wrong about that. I haven't received any direction from the publisher or advertising department. 

He also asked (not rhetorically, he waited for an answer) if I actually believed his efforts were hurting tourism in the city.

I responded that those weren't my words, that criticism came from the top three leaders of the city's tourism industry. My opinion doesn't matter.

Last night I made it to the big leagues. In an agenda item, "Late night arrests," seemingly solely dedicated to refuting my blog post, he let his criticism be known publicly. Pointing to my post (and me by name, though I had already left and was watching the webcast while filing my articles from the office) he said it was "sarcastic" and undermining his efforts.

I didn't find the post (which by now you should realize I've been linking to as frequently as possible) sarcastic and I'm certainly not ignoring his arguments. 

As I pointed out last week, my post summarized all of his efforts and quoted him extensively throughout. I'm just writing down what he's done and said.

Report of a black Ford Bronco running a stop sign on Vichy Drive every morning. Stop it.

It looks like the mischief-makers were out Monday night as there was a report of someone having his car shot with a paintball and another one of someone’s car and house egged.

 Someone called to report that a woman's “stolen vehicle” is actually in a man's driveway. The call out on it was cancelled. Seems like a misunderstanding.

Blotter 021213 by

Wednesday's blotter:

47 Walnut Street: Welfare check on a cat. Who knew you could ask the police to do that? (Cat is fine, by the way).

Caller reports crane fell over. Officer advises “no problem.” I think that depends on who you ask, officer.

Blotter 021313 by

So obviously I haven't posted these in a while (my bad), so instead of going through every detail of the last two weeks blotters, I'm going to be much more selective with what I single out here in the blog.

Obviously anything that was newsworthy went into the newspaper. So this is all just what didn't raise to that level, but stuff that is interesting to see that the police deal with on a daily basis.

And here we go...


Jan. 26: Nothing to see here (at least in the blotter). Someone refused to pay their cab fare, until they did. Couple accidents. An electrical fire that was put down quickly.

Blotter 012613 by

Jan. 27: I was off that day. This blotter covered my birthday the day before and apparently a lot of people were celebrating by causing mayhem. 

One guy had two DIFFERENT stolen plates on his vehicle and a third inside. So that’s interesting.

About an hour later a male was arrested for being “possibly intoxicated” and stripping. He later smashed his head into a car window. He was taken to the ER. 

A little after midnight a woman “came inside (a) bar with (a) bloody face -  Unknown what happened.”

A person called police for their intoxicated son who was “in a snow bank, trying to walk home.”

Someone hit a lamp post, knocking it over and exposing wires on Union Avenue. They drove off before police got there. 

Also there were a lot of reports of people refusing to leave places while intoxicated and at least two instances of refusing to pay cab fares.

Blotter 012713 by

Jan. 28: 2:14 p.m.: Welfare check for female who hasn’t been heard since last night.

2:48 p.m.: Officer advises subject was sleeping. No problem.

No place for late sleepers.

That is all.

Blotter 012813 by

Jan. 29: Bank robbery.

Call from someone who advised that her ex-roommate took her car 3 MONTHS AGO for repairs and has not yet returned it.

Blotter 012913 by

Jan. 30

Caller advises male in a blue jacket with a brown “knapsack” (whatever that is) standing in the middle of the street waving down cars. Officers advise he is trying to hail a cab.

Blotter 013013 by

Jan. 31

Man too drunk to ride his bike. He eventually fell on his head and needed to an ambulance. Wonder if he had insurance…

Blotter 013113 by

Feb. 1 A lot of weather-related calls. Wires down, trees down, etc.

Blotter 020113 by

Feb. 2

Welfare check on male subject talking to himself. Subject sent on his way.

A fax machine kept calling 911. Paper Jam!

Domestics and a couple minor MVAs as well.

Blotter 020213 by

Feb. 3

Random Saturday night problems: Man on some type of narcotic; “unwanted intoxicated male” (is there any other kind?); subject refusing to pay fare for taxi; the usual.

Blotter 020313 by

Feb. 4

Not much going on: Hitch-hiker, minor MVAs, overdose.

Blotter 020413 by

Feb. 5

Reports of homeless living in a tent in the woods. Contacted park police. Unattended death of a 57-year-old woman on South Federal (could be Stonequist). Nothing suspicious.

Blotter 020513 by

Feb. 6

A few things that made the paper: Counterfeit $10 bill, paint-balled houses.

Also a report of an “accidental” 911 call, but on further investigation the dispatcher found there was a history of domestic disputes at the house and sent a police car anyway. They found an “unwanted guest” who was moved along. Kudos to the dispatchers; it’s good to see they are on their toes. They could have prevented something much worse.  

Blotter 020613 by

Feb. 7:

Caller reports prescription drugs stolen;

There was also a call of a car into a pole. The driver and his female passenger allegedly fled the scene. Police found the man at Trotters after pinging his phone. She was intoxicated, police say he was not. Saratoga Springs Police Lt. John Catone said he was only issued traffic tickets, including leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

Blotter 020713 by

Feb. 8

Male intoxicated sitting in the middle of the sidewalk on Railroad Place. Transported to ER. A few domestics and fights as well.

Blotter 020813 by

Feb. 9

Nothing to see here.

Blotter 020913 by

Feb. 10

Also nothing to see here.

Blotter 021013 by

Feb. 11

Kids on a rooftop on Congress Street throwing snowballs at people. Damn kids. Police got there and turned them over to their parents.

A woman reports getting pushed out of a vehicle on the side of the road. She doesn’t know who they were because she just met them tonight. Moral of the story: Don’t ride in cars with strangers.

Blotter 021113 by lmccarty2656

Whew... and we're through them. I'll try to keep up on posting them more regularly.

There has been a lot of criticism in the last few months about transparency in the Public Safety Department or the perceived lack thereof, but I will say this: things are getting better.

Just in the time that I have been working at the newspaper and covering events in the city (about two years now) I've noticed a difference in how readily information comes out of the Police Department.

They have improved their website, routinely put up mug shots (something they didn't often provide when I got here) and have gone to the Nixle service which will send text or e-mail alerts about incidents/activities/arrests that happen with the PD.

For those who are interested, you can sign up to receive those alerts at their website here.

Recent events show it isn't a perfect system, but it is definitely a step in the right direction.

The editors and I also met with Chief Chris Cole, Lt. John Catone who handles their public information, Capt. Mike Chowske who oversees the patrol unit and deals with press inquiries on administrative issues, Public Safety Commissioner Christian Mathiesen and Deputy Commissioner Eileen Finneran yesterday in City Hall to discuss communication issues.

There were disagreements over a few things but overall it was a productive meeting.

Catone is in training for his duties as public information officer at the end of which he will be certified by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (because we all know how good the federal government is about disseminating information).

In addition, if you've noticed any of the recent Police Blotters, the PD is releasing more detailed information about every arrest made in the city, which makes our job easier.

In addition, they've started e-mailing their full police blotter to the press daily. It was available before at the window at the police station, but the email means I can put it out to anyone who is interested.

So, I'll be posting the blotter here in the blog. I'd like to commit to doing it every day, but I know that as soon as I commit to that something will come up and I won't do it. So I'll just say that I'll post it as often as I can.

I'll tag the post with "Blotter" so if you are interested in seeing how each shift at the department goes, check in every day and you can see it for yourself.

If you have questions about anything in the blotter, feel free to e-mail me at lmccarty@saratogian.com and I'll do what I can to get you some answers.

Blotter 120712