VESTAL, NY (WSKG) Following the third incident in a month where someone has shot at law enforcement in Broome County, Sheriff David Harder said the solution to the recent uptick in violent crime was for legislators to reimplement tougher penalties.
Broome County District Attorney Michael Korchak (Left) and Broome County Sheriff David Harder (Right) address reporters Wednesday. (Vaughn Golden/WSKG)
Asked what his plan was to remedy the recent spate of violent crimes, Harder claimed he could not do anything except push lawmakers to impose harsher punishments for crimes, including reverting loosened bail laws that were implemented in 2020.
“The only thing we can plan is asking the legislative body to tighten up on the laws or come out with some decent penalties that will maybe get people to stop doing what they’re doing,” Harder told reporters in a press conference Thursday.
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Citing a disconnect between police officers in the streets and policymakers in Albany, state Sen. Fred Akshar hosted a roundtable discussion on public safety with stakeholders from around the 52nd Senate District.
Akshar, a former Broome County undersheriff, was joined by Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt, Broome County Sheriff David Harder, and several other law enforcement officials, prosecutors and elected leaders.
The group, which did not include any representatives from community organizations or police reform advocacy groups, met in private before briefing reporters on their discussions afterward.
One of the main reasons for the roundtable Wednesday afternoon was to assess how decisions made by lawmakers affect those on the front lines, Akshar said.
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