By Guy Page
Eager to improve public safety in a county with Vermont’s highest opioid death rate, the Town of Brattleboro was this close to signing a contract with a private security company for added police-like presence at municipal buildings and the local library.
But that changed when the owner of Hill Street Security appeared to refer to undesireables as ‘cockroaches.’ His firm has been dropped from consideration for the contract.
“It’s like, literally, it’s like cockroaches when you turn the kitchen light on. It’s literally like cockroaches running away, as if they know somebody’s there watching, they don’t like to be bothered.” – John Raffensberger
“You know, we’re thinking of forming the Cockroach Coalition, because if we’re gonna get called cockroaches, if we’re gonna get called all these horrible despicable names, then we are going to use these names to prove a point that we are not who you say we are.” – Lisa Marie
Through March, Vermont had 55 opioid deaths – 10 higher than the already-high three-year average. The growing OD rate is blamed on targeted, plentiful distrubution of fentanyl and other especially lethal drugs brought into Vermont from southern New England, including a nearby distribution hub in Springfield, MA. These drugs enter Vermont on I-91 in Windham County, which at 17.4 opioid deaths/100,000 people has twice the state average of 8.5.
Brattleboro is the urban center of Windham County. And the town parking garage is a favorite haunt of drug traffickers.
“During the past month we have seen an increase in people congregating at the garage which has resulted in an uptick of some criminal activity as well as unsanitary conditions within the elevators and on the upper floors. The recent carjacking has made the public fear for their safety if they need to utilize the garage for parking,” Chief Norma Hardy told the selectboard in a June 2 memo.
Like most Vermont police agencies, Hardy’s Brattleboro Police Dept. is short-staffed.
“While we are confident that we will be able to fill the ranks at theBrattleboro Police Department, this takes time,” Hardy said. “Hiring unarmed private security will not only help with our ability to stay informed as to what is transpiring at the garage but will also give the public a feeling of safety knowing that there is a constant presence there.”
Hardy – hired in part for her reputation for can-do innovation – recommended two private security candidates: Securitas, and Hill Street Security. Both have existing contracts with the Town of Brattleboro. The uniformed guards of Securitas would cover the garage. The ununiformed, and presumably less-threatening, Hill Streeters would patrol the library and other town buildings. Both would cost about $2000/week.
At a June 6 selectboard meeting, Hill Street Security owner John Raffensberger used an insect analogy to describe the benefits of unarmed security.
“What you’re going to see, because we have experience in town doing this with several retailers, as soon as you show a presence you’ll automatically see people scurry away,” Raffensberger told the selectboard. “It’s like, literally, it’s like cockroaches when you turn the kitchen light on, it’s literally like cockroaches running away, as if they know somebody’s there watching, they don’t like to be bothered.”
That comment didn’t sit well with some local residents.
“You know, we’re thinking of forming the Cockroach Coalition, because if we’re gonna get called cockroaches, if we’re gonna get called all these horrible despicable names, then we are going to use these names to prove a point that we are not who you say we are,” an impassioned person identified as Lisa Marie said at the June 20 selectboard meeting.
Politically correct expressions or not, some property managers want added security.
Susan Belville is the property manager of a building at 59 Elias Street. “I’ve not been able to find a tenant because of….people that are hanging out and malingering around the doorways, sitting on the steps, and blocking entrances to the building and the commercial spaces. This is a total disservice to the clients in my building,” she told the board June 20.
The Town will not move forward with the Hill Street Security contract, town officials said. It is not clear if Securitas will provide the town building/library coverage Hardy hoped Hill Street would cover.