Police Chief Kyle Amidon remains on paid administrative leave as a New York State Police investigation is conducted
From Lisa Stephens Sanford, pictured is Amidon
It was a packed village board room at Monday night’s regular meeting of the Village of Canisteo Board. A crowd of about 30 was present with many expressing concerns, at times contentiously, regarding storm drain conditions before and after the August flooding, and seeking assurances that village police presence is currently sufficient.
As routine department reports were given, the ongoing impact of early August flooding was clearly evident. Village services, were heavily pressed, with 34 fire calls and 36 ambulance calls for August, many flood-related. Trustees publicly thanked the City of Hornell for providing needed personnel and machinery to support clean up efforts. In response to challenges that the village needs a regular program of storm drain inspection, cleaning and street sweeping, Village Mayor Monica Recktenwald noted the department of three employees is working at times by hand to manage this issue. Many residents simply stated they need a solution after experiencing multiple flooding incidents over the last four years. Recktenwald emphasized that she briefed Governor Hochul of this situation during the governor’s post-flood visit the Canisteo and committed herself to finding a solution, including looking into grants.
During the 32-minutes of public comment, a second major issue of concern was the status of Village Police Chief Kyle Amidon and current village police staffing. Police Chief Kyle Amidon remains on paid administrative leave as a New York State Police investigation is conducted. Saying “It’s out of our hands,” the mayor repeatedly emphasized that she is not part of this investigation and has no specific knowledge of the purpose or the timeline of this official inquiry. Questions were raised about just how many officers are now on active duty. Several individuals are observing a noticeable reduction in police visibility in the village. One village resident stated that prior to Amidon’s leave the village employed nine police officers. Recktenwald responded that village police personnel currently consists of two full-time and one part-time officer, with Steuben County Sheriff’s deputies and New York State Police personnel providing additional support. The village is actively hiring, and have narrowed candidates for a part-time police position.
In routine business, the board approved crossing guard appointments for the 2024-25 school year, provided updates on water infrastructure, approved a low bid for a FEMA Hazard Mitigation #1 Generator, and approved a liquor license waiver request for the Valley Bar and Grill. The board then entered executive session on employee matters.
