PLATTSBURGH — With the potential for Election Day trouble, area law enforcement will be at the ready.
“We’ve got some extra people on staff, and every zone has their polling places identified and they will be periodically driving through to keep an eye on the polling places,” Clinton County Sheriff David Favro said Monday.
“We’ve urged the Board of Elections, or any polling place, that has an issue to call 911, instead of calling an agency directly. That way, they can get you the quickest response and other cars actually hear the calls when it goes out so they know what’s going on in different areas.”
Favro said his department has also coordinated with State Police, which will also be out patrolling and ready to respond to any incidents.
The national presidential election between Republican former president Donald Trump and Democrat Vice President Kamala Harris has grown quite contentious and there have been concerns nationwide that the election could lead to violence.
LET CALMER HEADS PREVAIL
Favro said people need to stay cool.
“No matter what the outcome, no matter who you’re going to vote for, we have to make sure that we, as citizens, in order to preserve what our forefathers have developed for centuries, we need to let the calmer heads prevail and to respect everybody’s individual opinion,” he said.
“We see quite often people get very conflicted and argumentative if you’re not supporting the candidate that they’re supporting. That’s a right of individuality, and people’s right to be able to choose who they want to choose. So be respectful. Let the calmer heads prevail, and remember, at the end of the day, we’re trying to do what’s best for the country as a whole, not trying to create disruption and dissension, particularly in a local community.”
NOT A DAY OF ‘WARNINGS’
If there is trouble, Favro said law enforcement will intervene appropriately.
“It’s not going to be a day of warnings,” he said.
“If they are causing disruptions and problems, they’re going to be dealt with.”
The North Country has always supported law enforcement Favro said, and he hopes that trend continues on Election Day.
“We’re very proud of the North Country and the things that we’ve seen in the past and the support that we’ve had with law enforcement, which is different than many parts of the country,” he said.
“So I would ask people for their help one more time and say, you know, let the calmer heads prevail and let’s get through this.”