Village of Cayuga Heights Police Department
836 Hanshaw Road
Ithaca, NY 14850

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Jerry L. Wright, Police Chief
Phone: (607) 257-1011
Fax: (607) 257-3474

The Village Police Department (257-1011) is located in Marcham Hall, 836 Hanshaw Road. Village Police Officers are on patrol 24 hours every day. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. An automated phone system will connect you to the Central Dispatch Center to ensure 24-hour communications with our Police Officers.

Jaclyn Carr, CHPD police clerk, is the first person you will meet upon entering the Police Department. CHPD police clerks perform many daily tasks both in-person and over the phone. They handle requests for services including issuing handicapped parking permits, scheduling property checks, records keeping, FOIL and background requests, and other administrative obligations as they arise. The police clerks may also aid in the dispatch of officers for emergency or non-emergency calls for service. They are responsible for the processing of case files to the court and district attorney’s office as well as uploading all documents electronically into the county wide Laserfiche Repository. CHPD clerks also compile monthly department statistical reports for submission to the village board of trustees and to state and federal agencies, including the Department of Criminal Justice.

The Cayuga Heights Police Department (CHPD), along with 500 law enforcement agencies across New York State, is participating in the NYS Police Reform Collaborative. Our goal is to build upon the already strong relationship between the CHPD and the residents of Cayuga Heights to promote effective crime reduction while building public trust. As part of this process the CHPD, along with the Villages Public Safety Committee, has undertaken a comprehensive review of current police force deployments, strategies, policies, procedures, and practices to ensure that our community is protected and served in a way that fosters trust, fairness, and legitimacy.

Over the summer, Mayor Woodard and Chief Jerry Wright participated in a survey of local police departments to help us identify opportunities for improvement or areas of potential concern in our policing practices. We were happy to see that many of the initiatives promoted as part of the State’s police reform effort are already a part of CHPD’s policy, practice, and procedure. A summary of the survey results, along with an explanation of the Village’s response to each question can be found here.

In addition, the Village hosted a Public Information Meeting on February 23 at 7:00 PM to engage our residents in a dialog regarding this police reform effort. Chief Wright discussed our current law enforcement practices, as well as the changes that have arisen from the collaborative review – for example, the establishment of a Bodyworn Camera Program has gone live as of April 7th, 2021 at 7:00 a.m. for our officers.

Seeking Community Input on Police Reform. This Survey is part of the Village of Cayuga Heights initiative on Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative efforts. Community members can also contact Police Chief Jerry Wright at jwright@cayuga-heights.ny.us with any thoughts and or concerns as part of our ongoing initiative.

Request to have the Cayuga Heights Police to check on your home while you are away. Click here for the form.

The Police would like to remind everyone that according to Village Ordinance there is NO OVERNIGHT PARKING (from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m.) year-round on Village streets.

Peddlers and Solicitors must be licensed. Please call Village Police if a solicitor shows no license or you have reason to be suspicious.

Vendor Registration Form

Vendor Registration Card sample

List of Approved Solicitors:

ALTUS Power Renewable Energy. 2/14/2024

Unwanted medications may be dropped in the Village Police Department drop box during office hours Monday through Friday 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Sharps are not collected at the Village but locations and additional information may be found in the links below.

Need a handicapped permit? Please visit the Police Clerk or call 607-257-1011 for more information.

Attention homeowners! A new ordinance in 2013 has been passed requiring all new or existing buildings with alarms to register a lockbox with Knox Box. Click here to learn more or call 607-257-1011.

Dog Control Law enforced by the Police Dept. Dog licenses may be obtained at the Town of Ithaca office. As a reminder, Village Ordinance requires you to clean up after your dog.

***RESIDENTIAL SAFETY ADVISORY***

Leaving Home for the Holidays? Remember to lock you doors, set alarms, and don’t leave valuables in open view

Burglars won’t find your home an “easy mark” if they are forced to work in the light, if they have to take a lot of time breaking in, or if they can’t break in without making a lot of noise. Research shows that if it takes more than four or five minutes to break into a home, the burglar will go elsewhere. Most insurance companies provide discounts for devices that make homes safer (dead-bolt locks, window grates, bars and smoke/fire/burglar alarms). However, when improving the security of your home, don’t exchange security for personal safety. Don’t make your home such a fortress that you are unable to escape in case of a fire or other emergency

Check your home for weaknesses and correct them!

Take the time to “case” your house or apartment, just as a burglar would. Where is the easiest entry? How can you make it more “burglar-resistant”?
Trim trees and shrubs near doors and windows, and think carefully before installing a high, fence around your back yard. Fences and shrubbery can add to your privacy, but can also be an asset to a burglar. Consider trading a little extra privacy for a bit of added security.
Force any would-be burglar to confront a real enemy-light. Exterior lights and motion detectors, mounted out of easy reach, can reduce the darkness a burglar finds comforting.
Simple security devices (nails, screws, padlocks, door and window locks, grates, bars and bolts) can increase the amount of time it takes to break into your home.
Invest in a burglar alarm. The most effective ones also ring at an outside service.
Are any of your valuables-paintings, a silver collection or a computer-easy to see from outside the house? Rearranging your furnishings might be advisable if it makes your home less inviting to criminals.

Establish a routine to make certain that doors and windows are locked and alarm systems are turned on.
Avoid giving information to unidentified telephone callers and announcing your personal plans in want ads, social media sites or public notices (such as giving your address when advertising items for sale).
Notify the police if you see suspicious strangers in your area.
Don’t carry house keys on a key ring bearing your home address or leave house keys with your car in a commercial parking lot or with an attendant.
Don’t hide your keys in “secret” places outside your home-burglars usually know where to look.

Leave blinds open in their usual position.
Have mail and packages picked up, forwarded or held by the post office.
Lower the sound of your telephone ringer and answering machine so they can’t be heard outside.
Arrange to have your sidewalk and driveway shoveled.
Stop newspaper deliveries.
Ask a friend to pick-up “throw-away” newspapers and circulars.
Use automatic timers to turn lights on and off in various parts of the house at appropriate times. Consider connecting a radio to a timer.
Tell police and dependable neighbors when you plan to be away and join with your neighbors to keep a close watch on what’s happening in your area…working closely with them is a good way to prevent crime.

Doors
Make sure you have strong doors. Outside doors should be metal or solid hardwood, and at least 1 ¾ inches thick. Frames must be made of equally strong material, and each door must fit its frame securely. Even the most efficient lock, if it is placed in a weak door, will not keep out a determined burglar. A peephole or a wide-angle viewer in the door is safer for identifying visitors than a door chain. Sliding glass doors present a special problem because they are easy to open but if you have these doors, you can find special locks for them. A broomstick in the door channel can also help, but cannot be depended on.

Locks
Deadbolt locks are best. They usually are locked with a key from the outside and a thumb turn on the inside. The cylinder (where the key is inserted) should be pick-resistant. Ask your hardware dealer for a reputable brand or buy your locks from a locksmith.

Windows
Key locks are available for all types of windows. Double-hung windows can be secured simply by “pinning” the upper and lower frames together with a nail, which can be removed from the inside.

As a reminder, keep all doors and windows locked and secure any valuables in your home. If you have had unknown subjects come to your door please contact the Cayuga Heights Police Department at 607-257-1011 / Fax 257-3474.

There are currently no registered sex offenders living in the Village of Cayuga Heights. The following link is provided for your convenience.

New York State Public Registry of Sex Offenders

Cayuga Heights Police, Fire department, Trustees and staff care about the future of our youth. New York State and the Office of Addiction Services and Support has an entire website devoted to resources for preventing drug use in our youth. Check it out by clicking the link below.

LINK

Looking for something? If you would like to request any governmental records please submit a FOIL Form to the Clerks Office.

FOR ASSISTANCE FOR A FIRE OR MEDICAL EMERGENCY DIAL 911

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