By Bill Sherman

ALTAMONT — Teaching kids lessons before their mistakes have serious consequences is a focus of Altamont’s new public safety commissioner, Anthony Salerno. Salerno says he also knows parents will respond to this brand of community policing differently.
Such was the case recently when Salerno says he was told of two youths throwing a gas cap against a street sign. In a letter to the Enterprise editor, Anne Faulkner questioned Salerno’s handling of the situation involving her 15-year-old son, Max. In contrast, Salerno said, the other child’s parent was "very gracious and concerned."

The commissioner said he did not fault Faulkner for defending her son.
"Often a parent tells me, ‘My son wouldn’t do that,’" Salerno said.
He said he does not like to discuss specific incidents involving juveniles. However, he said, the child’s "actions brought this attention onto himself."

If nothing happened, the police would not be involved, he said.

No charges were filed in the case.

When talking with The Enterprise on Wednesday, Faulkner said she felt the situation was blown out of proportion by Salerno.

Salerno said his main concern is for the welfare and well-being of village residents. This includes addressing even minor problems in the hope they don’t become reoccurring, he said.
"These are situations that can get bigger down the road," Salerno told The Enterprise.
Faulkner also stated she felt the police are "a little more apt to overreact because of community pressure." In her letter to the editor, she questioned if the three police committee members on the village’s board of trustees were putting pressure on the police to be more aggressive.

Lsat year, villagers complained to the board about the large number of unfamiliar part-time Altamont police officers making frequent traffic stops. The board appointed a committee which surveyed Altamont residents and businesses and concluded the village should keep its police force, but restructure.

Subsequently, the mayor and Faulkner, a trustee, along with another trustee, were ousted from their posts and three of the police committee members were elected: James Gaughan, as mayor, and Kerry Dineen and Dean Whalen, as trustees.

The current board hired Salerno as public safety commissioner.

Both Mayor Gaughan and Commissioner Salerno disagreed with Faulkner’s assertion about pressure.
"There is not pressure to do anything other than run a highly professional and efficient police department," Gaughan said. "I am not directing [Salerno]. He’s the expert and he is held accountable for that."
Salerno also said, "Not everyone is going to like me. You will see a concerned commissioner and police department that leads the village down the right path."
Salerno said he expects to "build up youth leaders in this society so others can follow and do the right thing."

Part of this plan includes addressing minor infractions in the village.
"I don’t want officers driving around and not addressing things. I want these things addressed," said Salerno. Not everything will result in formal charges, he said.
Salerno added, "I feel very grateful to be here and I accept the role. Not everyone will be happy with me. However, the majority have been greatly supportive."