Jamestown, Kendall Club PBA Dispute Issue of City's Public Safety

The issue of whether the City of Jamestown is a safe place to live should be considered by the numbers, but often times, a deeper dive into the numbers is warranted. That's the crux of a dispute between the city and its police union, the Kendall Club Police Benevolent Association. There were seven homicides in the city last year, but Mayor Kim Ecklund's administration says -- while tragic -- those were "isolated incidents rather than part of a broad crime wave." In a Facebook post, the Kendall Club PBA said, "Part 1 offenses include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. In 2023, there was a total of 1,016 offenses, and in 2024 the number increased to 1,084 offenses." At last week's City Council work session, Councilman Bill Reynolds -- a former Jamestown Police officer -- noted that Chief Timothy Jackson laid out crime statistics in committee and said there were no major changes...

Bill Reynolds: not a wholesale increase

Some of the responses to the police union's post agreed with a need for more support; one person noted that a big part of the issue is New York State bail reform, which has allowed multiple offenses by one suspect to be committed. Reynolds says he believes that overall, Jamestown is a safe city...

Bill Reynolds: my glass is still half-full

The administration began its retort to the union by stating that "the City of Jamestown deeply values and respects the men and women of the Jamestown Police Department, whose dedication and service are fundamental to the safety and well-being of our community. We fully recognize the challenges they face daily and remain committed to ensuring they are supported in a manner that is fair and equitable to all." The Kendall Club PBA's contract with the city expires this year.

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