SHERBURNE – Despite dreary weather and slippery road conditions, Senator James Seward made the trip to Sherburne on Friday to see how the police department had used a $20,000 grant he secured for them. According to Village Mayor William Acee, the grant was a huge benefit to the department and to the local taxpayers.

“I have enormous respect for the men and women who serve in law enforcement and place their lives at risk each and every day,” Seward said. “In small, rural communities across New York, local governments are challenged to provide important, necessary services and to do so on a budget. State funding helps provide local services and reduces pressure on the local budget.”

The $20,000 grant was used to replace a village police car. According to Police Chief James Fox, the old vehicle, a 1997 Crown Victoria, was replaced with a 2008 Crown Victoria Interceptor, specially equipped for law enforcement.

Although there are other police agencies that serve Sherburne, including the Chenango County Sheriffs and the State Police, Fox said having a local agency is an important deterrent to crime. “Having a local agency is very important, because in this day and age, law enforcement agencies are stretched to the limit,” Fox said. “When we have an officer on, we can provide a much faster response and service,” Fox said.