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The Legislature’s Public Safety Committee Tuesday, by a 5-0 vote, provided an initial recommendation to create a confidential investigator position in the District Attorney’s Office. While committee members acknowledged the need, some expressed concern whether funding would exist to permit such a position to be sustained after this year.

The confidential investigator would act as a liaison between the D.A.’s Office and law enforcement agencies on criminal investigations and would conduct investigate investigations in matters initiated by the D.A.’s Office.

District Attorney Gwen Wilkinson told the committee the position, which she first proposed but then withdrew as part of the 2007 budget process, is badly needed in light of the changing nature of crime in Tompkins County—both a significant rise in the number of felony crimes and changes in types of crimes being investigated and prosecuted, such as those related to revenue-based fraud and narcotics distribution, and increased open homicide cases.  Wilkinson said the investigator would greatly enhance her office’s ability to prosecute crime and secure convictions, and that funds in her budget can support the position’s nearly $65,000 salary, plus fringe, for 2011.  Wilkinson noted that the County would be eligible for grant funding which could contribute to future support.

Legislator Brian Robison, himself a retired police investigator, said he is clearly in favor of the investigator concept, but maintained the service could be provided at less cost by outsourcing on a contract basis. He suggested initiating the program on a half-time trial basis. Legislator Pam Mackesey said support beyond the first year would be expected to hinge on the availability of outside funding, and Legislator Leslyn McBean-Clairborne said she could support the position at present, but was concerned about dealing with the issue outside the budget process.

Legislator Jim Dennis, who chairs the budget committee which will consider the proposal next, observed that, if approved by the Legislature, the position would be in place for one year, but that it cannot be predicted how this would fare as the Legislature prepares to address expected fiscal challenges for 2012.  The budget committee is scheduled to consider the matter at its next meeting February 28.

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