Town of Highlands Police Chief Joseph Burns was hired as deputy chief in January 2024 and became its chief in April. Since then, he said last week in a booklet he presented to each member of the Town Board, “the THPD has had an exciting year filled with changes and challenges”.
He gave the board his annual statistical report, saying that in 2024 his officers wrote 641 traffic tickets at 1346 traffic stops. There were 2245 calls for service, and he assigned his officers 4549 directed patrols. The department handled 145 motor vehicle accidents, made 25 arrests, dealt with 95 cases, and wrote 19 parking tickets.
But in addition, he said, his officers were out in the community, participating in local parades, National Night Out, the annual September 11 memorial, and other events like Family Fun Day, and Dancing Under the Stars at Mine Dock Park.
They also supported goings-ons at O’Neill High School including sporting events, the senior bash, graduation, and panel discussions on topics such as drinking and driving. THPD officers often stop by the schools through the academic day as well.
For West Point, officers have provided additional security for events such as football and graduation.
To do all this, since Burns became chief, the THPD has hired nine new part-time officers, and offered them increased training both in-house and at external locations. “This training increase will continue into 2025,” Burns wrote.
Finally, he told the board that through grant funding the department purchased two new police vehicles in 2024, and they debuted a new THPD lettering scheme.