Amherst: One of the safest cities in the US????

[pilot56]

I hear often about Amherst, NY being one of the safest places in the US. However, I find this hard to be true. I sometimes listen to the Amherst police on a scanner and I hear calls of domestic disputes, larceny in progress, and sometimes I hear fights in progress. Now, Amherst does have its nice areas, but there are some areas in the town that I just don't feel comfortable just walking around in. (ex. Univeristy Plaza, some guy was beat up there about a week ago by three guys.) How is it possible that Amherst is one of the safest cities in the U.S.????

[Munlaw]

I have no problem walking around in Amherst, never really been concerned for my safety there...

[future01]

i believe they go by town's population. With that being said Amherst is a relatively large town with low violent crimes. Amherst is the largest suburb in WNY. but you are absolutely correct, there are many crimes but the vast majority are considered non-violent offenses.

[pilot56]

I have no problem walking around in Amherst, never really been concerned for my safety there...

What part of Amherst are we talking here???

[2971511]

Usually when they talk about "safest Cities" they are referring to FBI Crime Index Part 1 offenses as compared wtih poopulation...
Part 1 offenses include all violent crimes, Murder/manslaughter, rape/sex crimes, robbery, Agg. Assault, Kidnapping, and I think Burglary.

They do not include stuff like theft, minor assault, GLA, etc. At least that was my understanding of it.

[NorwichCadet]

don't forget all that unreported incidents!

[pilot56]

don't forget all that unreported incidents!

Don't you mean: all of those unreported incidents! ????

[WNY-PD]

i believe they go by town's population. With that being said Amherst is a relatively large town with low violent crimes. Amherst is the largest suburb in WNY. but you are absolutely correct, there are many crimes but the vast majority are considered non-violent offenses.

Actually, Amherst is the 2nd largest suburb in the state.

Usually when they talk about "safest Cities" they are referring to FBI Crime Index Part 1 offenses as compared wtih poopulation...
Part 1 offenses include all violent crimes, Murder/manslaughter, rape/sex crimes, robbery, Agg. Assault, Kidnapping, and I think Burglary.

They do not include stuff like theft, minor assault, GLA, etc. At least that was my understanding of it.

This is true.

You guys would be shocked if you knew all the stuff that was really going on in Amherst. Everyone thinks nothing bad EVER happens in Amherst, but they have no idea!

[future01]

What is the largest suburb in the state?

[pilot56]

Not sure what the largest suburb in the state is, I'd guess that it's around the New York area. As for many things happening in Amherst that people don't know about...One of my friends lives near Briarhurst park; the other night the police were called to a person's house in the area (we have our own suspicions about what goes on there) and the police held a man that was in front of the house banging on the door and swearing, at gunpoint and then tackled him, he wasn't arrested though.:(

Try telling that to the 40 year old "east side" of Amherst mother who talks on her cell phone while driving only to complain when she gets a ticket. :)

[SlowDownThere]

What is the largest suburb in the state?


New Jersey.

[WNY-PD]

What is the largest suburb in the state?

I can't remember the name, but it's a suburb just outside of Albany. I should know this, but the name escapes me.

[2411Show]

Stayed in Amherst for a horseshow and had my license plates stolen at the hotel I stayed at.....drove home (90 miles) with stolen plates.

[WNY-PD]

Stayed in Amherst for a horseshow and had my license plates stolen at the hotel I stayed at.....drove home (90 miles) with stolen plates.

I don't get it. Someone stole your plates, so you stole someone else's plates? Or you drove home without plates?

[mark7777]

New Jersey.

lol
but true

[hxd]

New Jersey.

I don't care who ya are. That's funny right there.

[95mercury]

I can't remember the name, but it's a suburb just outside of Albany. I should know this, but the name escapes me.

No, Amherst is the largest upstate by quite a bit. It's over 115K now. You're probably thinking of the town of Colonie but it's not as big. But I'm sure there are bigger suburban towns downstate I would think.

[2411Show]

I don't get it. Someone stole your plates, so you stole someone else's plates? Or you drove home without plates?

The people that stole my plates put on *someone elses's*on my vehicle..........

[2971511]

The people that stole my plates put on *someone elses's*on my vehicle..........

That was not smart, so the cops stop you and lock you up for having stolen tags on your vehicle ????

You should have reported this, and put a paper note on your car says "stolen Tags ABC-133.." etc.

This falls under the catagory of "WTF were you thinking ??????????????????"

[pilot56]

That was not smart, so the cops stop you and lock you up for having stolen tags on your vehicle ????

You should have reported this, and put a paper note on your car says "stolen Tags ABC-133.." etc.

This falls under the catagory of "WTF were you thinking ??????????????????"

I AGREE:D

[2411Show]

You should have reported this, and put a paper note on your car says "stolen Tags ABC-133.." etc. When I got home I noticed my plates were wrong and called the police, they ran the plate and said THEY were reported stolen in Amherst. The police took those plates, gave me an incident report and I got new ones at the DMV the next day.

[pilot56]

Well, at least it worked out.

[mark7777]

No, Amherst is the largest upstate by quite a bit. It's over 115K now. You're probably thinking of the town of Colonie but it's not as big. But I'm sure there are bigger suburban towns downstate I would think.

Town of Greece NY was close to 100k at one time it is losing population now though like all of upstate. Interesting that Amherst has almost double the sworn officers that Greece NY PD does. A fact they have not ignored either.... but to no avail the town is not going to hire another 40 cops the tax increase would drive population down .:rolleyes:

[future01]

How many officer's does Amherst have?

[pilot56]

154 Sworn Officers
64 Officers in the Patrol Division

The numbers may have changed slighty as they have been the same on the website for the past year or so. I believe they have have hired a few officers since then.

[WNY-PD]

154 Sworn Officers
64 Officers in the Patrol Division

The numbers may have changed slighty as they have been the same on the website for the past year or so. I believe they have have hired a few officers since then.

Yes, hired a few and a few retired. It's pretty close to 154.

[UPNYPO]

i think Town of Greece is around 98 officers....i think. Could be wrong :)

They have vacancies too.

[pilot56]

Is Greece in Monroe County?

[UPNYPO]

Yes it is in Monroe County. It boarders Rochester on the West side.

[mark7777]

Yes Greece has some vanancy's... some new ones will open open soon also at least one officer is gonna get the axe soon.

[pilot56]

Is the Greece PD similar to Amherst PD?

[WNY-PD]

Is the Greece PD similar to Amherst PD?

Similar in what regards?

[pilot56]

Their operations.

[mark7777]

Is the Greece PD similar to Amherst PD?

not sure about that Greece PD is dispatched by the monroe county 911 center..
Amherst I beleive has their own dispatchers

Monroe county pds share a county wide radio system and greece cars can communicate with neighboring towns or any agency in the county with the bush of a button not sure if Erie has a similiar system.

Greece PD has 2 precincts and tthe town is divided into 6 patrol sections 3 for each precinct. Not sure how Amherst divides their patrol up.

Amherst has a village Greece does not. Amherst has more foot patrols in the village of Williamsville ect.

Amherst has a huge college campus ie UB but that is also patroled by UB campus PD.
in square miles the 2 Towns are probably similiar in size. Population wise Amherst has more residents.
Greece PD has 8 -or so cars on patrol give or take not sure how many Amherst has on per shift.

Amherst has about 20 detectives Greece PD the patrol officers do more of their own investagations.

[WNY-PD]

not sure about that Greece PD is dispatched by the monroe county 911 center..
Amherst I beleive has their own dispatchers

Yes, Amherst uses civilian dispatchers.

Monroe county pds share a county wide radio system and greece cars can communicate with neighboring towns or any agency in the county with the bush of a button not sure if Erie has a similiar system.

Greece PD has 2 precincts and tthe town is divided into 6 patrol sections 3 for each precinct. Not sure how Amherst divides their patrol up.

Amherst has 9 patrol areas

Amherst has a village Greece does not. Amherst has more foot patrols in the village of Williamsville ect.

No foot patrols in the village

Amherst has a huge college campus ie UB but that is also patroled by UB campus PD.
in square miles the 2 Towns are probably similiar in size. Population wise Amherst has more residents.
Greece PD has 8 -or so cars on patrol give or take not sure how many Amherst has on per shift.

Amherst has about 20 detectives Greece PD the patrol officers do more of their own investagations.

[pilot56]

Interesting, I wasn't aware that Amherst PD had foot patrols. Anyone know what the purpose of the Amherst police substation is at the Blvd. Mall?

[mark7777]

Interesting, I wasn't aware that Amherst PD had foot patrols. Anyone know what the purpose of the Amherst police substation is at the Blvd. Mall?

probably a place to process petit larceny arrestee's. Instead of driving them all the back to a station they can just issue a appearance ticket and send em on their way.
Monroe County has room at the marketplace mall and Ontario county has one at Eastview mall in Victor NY

[mark7777]

Interesting, I wasn't aware that Amherst PD had foot patrols. Anyone know what the purpose of the Amherst police substation is at the Blvd. Mall?

h'mm I quess they don't have walking patrols in the village but I have seen Amherst cops walking in the village maybe they just needed a stretch break I suppose.

let's see other differences
Amherst wears a uniform very similar to the state police with the gray and black stripe on the pants- Greece PD wears navy Blue's though years ago they did have a red stripe on the pants that some loved and others hated.

Amherst patrol cars are dark navy blue in color Greece pd drives white cars with a black stripe/graphics the newer graphics package looks better than the old Dallas pd look by far.

Amherst PD probably has more lights on their cars than Greece does.
Amherst has more command staff than Greece does.

Both departments interestingly enough wear the same shield or if it's not the same you would not be able to tell the difference.

[pilot56]

Interesting

[95mercury]

They do seem to be the same in many ways:

Amherst: pop 116,510 (2000 census)
53.5 sq miles

Greece: pop 94,141 (2000 census)
51.4 sq miles

Demographics are also very similar as are their locations in proximity to the core city (Buffalo/Rochester).


I had no idea Greece had that many people. Learn something new everyday. ;)

I think I was actually on the list for Greece after I took the test for Monroe County last fall but I missed the agility test due to a sudden death in the family out in Ohio. :(

[pilot56]

Guess it looks like Greece is very similar to Amherst but on a smaller scale. Buy the way, if anyone on this thread works for Amherst PD...Are you guys phasing out the Crown Vics for the Chargers? I've seen a few of the new Chargers drving around, even an unmarked one, and I have to say I think the Crown Vics look nicer. But then again, most of the depts. in WNY use the Crown Vic so maybe I'm just not used to it.

[WNY-PD]

Interesting, I wasn't aware that Amherst PD had foot patrols. Anyone know what the purpose of the Amherst police substation is at the Blvd. Mall?

The APD does not have foot patrols. Trust me. The Blvd Mall substation is not what you think it is. There are no arrests processed there.

Guess it looks like Greece is very similar to Amherst but on a smaller scale. Buy the way, if anyone on this thread works for Amherst PD...Are you guys phasing out the Crown Vics for the Chargers? I've seen a few of the new Chargers drving around, even an unmarked one, and I have to say I think the Crown Vics look nicer. But then again, most of the depts. in WNY use the Crown Vic so maybe I'm just not used to it.

No, the Chargers you've seen around are old. The current Crown Vics are newer models, I don't think there will be anymore Charges purchased.

[pilot56]

Got your PM. I take it you will not be going to that detail anytime soon.

[pilot56]

Not that this has much to do with anything but...Has anyone who lives in Amherst ever noticed all of the crazy/weird people on Hopkins Rd., The guy who cuts his lawn in squares, the guy who killed his mother, and the guy who works the register sometimes at Boche's. (You know, the guy who can't seem to get his hat to fit on his head.)