PUBLIC SAFETY

Public Safety

Police - Fire - EMS

Gilbertsville relies on several agencies working together to keep residents and visitors safe. The Village does not operate its own police department or ambulance service. Law enforcement is provided by the New York State Police and Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, while fire and EMS services are provided locally by the Gilbertsville Volunteer Fire Department & Emergency Squad and county EMS. This page explains who to call, what to expect, and how you can help.

Law Enforcement

  • Police services: New York State Police (Troop C, SP Sidney) and Otsego County Sheriff’s Office – Village has no police department of its own.

  • 911 dispatch sends the closest available unit (trooper or deputy) for emergencies.

  • Troopers cover a large rural area with only a few cars on at a time, so response times vary. (You can quote the “big patrol area, 2 cars on” explanation from your call with Delaney, in your own words.)

  • Village can’t control staffing, patrol patterns, or investigations; that’s NYSP/Sheriff/DA.

Fire Protection

Gilbertsville Volunteer Fire Department

  • Primary fire protection for the Village and surrounding area is provided by: Gilbertsville Volunteer Fire Department & Emergency Squad

    • Type: 100% volunteer fire department and emergency squad

    • Services:

      • Structural and wildland fire suppression

      • Vehicle and technical rescue as trained/equipped

      • First response to many medical emergencies

      • Mutual aid to neighboring departments as needed

    • Station: 114 Marion Ave, PO Box 72, Gilbertsville, NY 13776

    • Phone (non-emergency): (607) 783-2520

    The fire department is dispatched by Otsego County 911 and responds 24/7 as volunteers are available.

    Gilbertsville’s firefighters and EMTs are local volunteers who respond from home, work, or the station when paged. Response times can vary based on time of day, call volume, and available personnel, which is normal for rural volunteer departments.

Emergency Medical Services

Gilbertsville Volunteer Emergency Squad

  • The “Emergency Squad” portion of the Gilbertsville Volunteer Fire Department provides basic life support (BLS) EMS locally (EMT-level ambulance/first response) when members are available.

    Typical roles:

    • First response to 911 medical calls in the Gilbertsville area

    • Patient assessment, basic life support care, and transport when staffed

    • Working with county paramedics when advanced life support is needed

Otsego County Emergency Squad

  • Otsego County also operates Otsego County Emergency Medical Services (Ambulance), a county-based advanced life support (ALS) service headquartered in Cooperstown.

    Key points you can include:

    • Provider: Otsego County Emergency Medical Services (OCEMS) – ALS ambulance service

    • Address: 197 Main St, Cooperstown, NY 13326

    • Phone (office): 607-547-5351 (24-hour emergency contact is through 911)

    • OCEMS typically staffs multiple ALS ambulances around the county and may respond alone or together with local volunteer squads depending on location and call load.

Who to Call - Police vs Fire vs EMS

Always call 911 for emergencies

  • Use 911 immediately for:

    • Any medical emergency (difficulty breathing, chest pain, serious injury, stroke symptoms, etc.)

    • Fires, smoke, explosions, or gas odors

    • Traffic accidents with injuries or hazards

    • Crimes in progress or just occurred

    • Any situation where life or property may be in danger

    The Otsego County 911 center will dispatch:

    • Fire – Gilbertsville Volunteer Fire Department (and mutual aid if needed)

    • EMS – Gilbertsville Emergency Squad, Otsego County EMS, and/or neighboring agencies

    • Police – New York State Police and/or Otsego County Sheriff’s Office

    Non-Emergency Contacts

    For non-urgent issues (no immediate danger; no need for lights/sirens), residents can use non-emergency numbers such as:

    • Gilbertsville Volunteer Fire Department (non-emergency): (607) 783-2520

    • New York State Police – SP Sidney (non-emergency): (607) 561-7400

    • Otsego County Sheriff’s Office (non-emergency): (607) 547-4271

    • Otsego County Emergency Services Office (administrative): (607) 547-4328

How Residents Can Help

Everyday Safety:

  • Lock vehicles and doors; avoid leaving keys, fobs, or valuables in cars.

  • Use exterior lighting on homes and businesses where possible.

  • Install exterior or doorbell cameras if you are able; law enforcement and the fire company have emphasized that video is often critical for solving crimes and understanding incidents.

  • Keep your house number visible from the road (especially at night or in bad weather) so responders can find you quickly.

Reporting and Information:

  • When you call 911, be ready to give:

    • The exact location (address, cross street, or landmark)

    • What happened and when

    • Whether anyone is injured or trapped

  • If you have photos or video (for example, from cameras), tell the dispatcher or responding officer/EMT so they know evidence is available.

Village Role and Limitations

The Village of Gilbertsville appreciates and relies on the work of our volunteer fire and EMS providers, the New York State Police, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Office, and Otsego County EMS.

The Village:

  • Does not run its own police department or ambulance service.

  • Does not control law-enforcement staffing or patrols.

  • May support public safety through Village-owned infrastructure (lighting, signage) and by sharing resident concerns and patterns with the appropriate agencies.

Any major new public-safety measures on Village property (such as additional cameras or license plate readers) would require review of budget, privacy and legal issues, and discussion at public Village Board meetings before any decisions are made.