History

At a regular Town Board meeting on December 15, 1930, the board appointed Elmore F. White as Chief Constable and resolved that he, along with Constables John Walters, John Dash, Edward Yesser and Clifford Caswell, constitute the police force in the Town of Evans.

On December 18, 1937, the Town Board appointed Maurice “Mike” Crawford as Chief Constable.

In July 1938, the board appointed Bantle Green as a constable.

Between 1938 and 1952, when the police force became an established civil service police department, the force was augmented by the addition of constables Joseph Cervola, Alfred Kinn, Albert Snyder, Pete Jackson and Art Cash.

When the force became a department in 1952, Mike Crawford, Al Snyder, Bantle Green, Chet Borngraver and Pete Jackson remained as full-time police officers. Mike Crawford was sworn in as Chief of Police in 1952 and held that position until his death in 1967.

In the early days, the patrol car was not equipped with a two-way radio. When a complaint was received, a telephone operator would call radio station WMJ in Buffalo and have it relay a message for the patrol car to call the operator, who would then tell the nature of the complaint.

When the first two-way radio was installed, the department still only had one patrol car.

By July of 1971, the department had grown to include 15 full-time officers, 8 part-time officers, 4 desk clerks and 6 vehicles equipped with two-way radios.

The personnel of the department in July 1971 were: Chief William Joyce, Lieutenants Art Elvin, Steve Slowinski, Tom Wilson and Bantle Green. Patrolmen included Millard Lonkey, Donald Conti, David Roth, Robert Cummins, Fred Eckles, Nelson Tomczak, Dave Burke, John Persinger and Robert Ferguson. Part-time patrolmen included Norm Wehland, Fred Herold, Sam Pinto, Bernie Feldmann, Norm Boergers, Chuck MacPeek, Charles Picone and Phil Hadsell. Desk Clerks included Nella Reed, Donna Sagnibene, Thomas Dalton and Robert Barone.

Robert N. Ferguson would be promoted to Lieutenant in the following years and was appointed Chief of Police on January 12, 1983. Chief Ferguson would hold that position until his retirement in 2007.

Donald Conti would be named interim Chief of Police prior to Chief Ferguson being named Chief of Police.

Steve Slowinski served numerous years as a Lieutenant and Assistant Chief and was named interim Chief of Police following the retirement of Robert Ferguson in 2007. Steve Slowinski retired from the Town of Evans Police Department on January 3rd, 2008, after serving for 44 years.

Samuel V. DeJohn became Chief of Police on December 5, 2007, until his retirement on August 23, 2008.

Ernest Masullo was then appointed Chief of Police, a position he held until his retirement in 2016.

Douglas Czora was then appointed Chief of Police, a position he held until his retirement in June 2021.

The police department is currently led by Chief of Police Gregory Szarowicz, whose appointment became effective June 25th, 2021.

The department has undergone numerous changes in personnel, technology, equipment and philosophy over the years.

In the 1980’s, a Marine Unit was formed. In the first years of the unit, some of the officers were certified divers, trained and equipped to respond to below-surface incidents as well as above surface incidents and enforcement. While the department does not still provide divers, the department still operates a boat and jet ski for responses and enforcement.

The department also operates an Accident Investigation Unit (AIU) to investigate and document serious physical injury and fatal motor vehicle crashes and a bicycle unit to patrol areas of the town. In the summer of 2024, the department took receipt of two new E-bikes to replace aged equipment.

The department’s Detective Bureau is staffed by two Detectives, who are tasked with investigating numerous types of incidents and crimes.

The department operates numerous patrol and non-patrol vehicles. Patrol vehicles are equipped with the latest emergency warning technology, Mobile Data Terminals (MDT), Automated External Defibrillators (AED), pursuit intervention devices, water rescue equipment, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) kits and lock out tools to open vehicles when the keys are locked inside; a service that several departments no longer offer.

After providing a DARE officer and education for many years, the department now provides School Resource Officer (SRO) services to the Lake Shore Central School District.

Officers, while still equipped with the “old school” devices such as firearms, handcuffs, batons and pepper spray, also now carry Conducted Electrical Weapons; “Tasers” and Body Worn Cameras, a more recent addition to law enforcement.

The Evans Police Department still maintains a 24/7 dispatch center at our station. Once referred to as “desk clerks”, Public Safety Dispatchers (PSD) and are not only tasked with receiving emergency and non-emergency calls via E-911 and non-emergency landlines and dispatching Evans Police, they also provide police dispatching services to the Town of Brant and Fire and EMS dispatching to volunteer fire departments and emergency squads in the towns of Evans, Brant, Collins, North Collins, the villages of Angola, Farnham and North Collins and the Seneca Nation of Indians. Numerous communication, computer, telephone and video advancements and upgrades have been made over the years to the dispatching area to meet the needs of the communities it serves.

Currently the department is comprised of twenty-eight sworn officers, full and part-time, thirteen full and part-time Public Safety Dispatchers, two clerical staff, three full and part-time Dog Control
Officers, one Crossing Guard and three part-time Matrons, who handle female incarcerated persons.

A recent addition to the department is the position of Court Officers. Court Officers, which are Peace Officers, will handle court duties which will relieve the strain of having full or part-time police officers from having to be taken away from other police duties to serve as bailiff or oversee the metal detector outside the court room.

Another more recent addition to the department is a canine. “Addison” is a golden retriever comfort dog and a welcome addition to the department. She enjoys meeting people, especially children, and brings a sense of calm wherever she goes. Addison is assigned to a patrol officer, who she resides with and sports her own Facebook page. Addison has been featured on at least one local news station and has been a great asset, especially with visitors and employees at the town hall.

Addison is named after Terry Addison, an Evans Police Officer tragically taken from us in August 2002 in an off-duty motorcycle accident.

In 2013, the Evans Police family lost another officer in an off-duty motorcycle accident. Fred Garassi, III, passed away due to an accident which occurred in Hamburg, NY. Fred was a young patrol officer with a bright future in the department. He and Officer Addison will never be forgotten.

In 2030, the Evans Police Department will mark 100 years of service to the community..