GUILDERLAND, NY – The Guilderland Police Department, in a partnership with Crossgates and Pyramid Management Group, is pleased to introduce a community enhancement pilot program, which will station Guilderland Police Officers onsite at Crossgates. The program was created, refined and formalized with close input from the Guilderland Police Department, Crossgates and Pyramid, and has been under development for several months. The officers stationed at Crossgates, known as community officers whose patrol area will be the Crossgates shopping, dining and entertainment complex. The officers will work in close collaboration with Crossgates security and management staff to promote a continued safe, family-friendly environment for employees, tenants and guests year round.
Guilderland Police Chief Daniel McNally says; “This agreement will enhance our already successful Retail Interdiction Program which has been active in the mall for over a year. We can now provide this additional service on a full-time basis by having two officers stationed at Crossgates. The assigned officers’ shifts will be flexible to address current needs. The Guilderland Police Department appreciates the support we have received from Crossgates and Pyramid.”
In exchange for the services provided by the Guilderland Police Department, Crossgates has agreed to cover the costs of the expanded service. This will allow for the Town of Guilderland to hire two additional police officers to benefit the Guilderland community, without expense to taxpayers.
Town of Guilderland Supervisor Peter G. Barber commented that this arrangement allows the Police Department to maintain its full complement of officers for road and other duties, and at its operational discretion, at Pyramid’s expense, to deploy two full-time officers at Crossgates. “I am very appreciative of the long-term service provided by the Police to residents and visitors at Crossgates, and the collaborative working relationship between the Police Department and Crossgates,” he said.
In addition to helping ensure a positive shopping, dining, entertainment and hospitality experience, the community officers will provide normal police services and participate in community events held at Crossgates. The community officers will be familiar faces to the tenants, guests and mall walkers and will be an integral part of the fabric of the Crossgates community.
“Crossgates sees millions of guests coming through our doors annually,” says Michael Gately, General Manager of Crossgates. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Guilderland Police Department and the ability to bring this program to our center. Going forward, we will continue to work together to analyze best practices and implement new programs to ensure that the actions of a few do not impact the experience of many. We are a place where families go to spend quality time, for our community to gather to help local non-profits raise funds and where locals and tourists alike come to shop, dine and experience everything that Crossgates has to offer.”