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When he walks out the door for the final time in January, Chief Brian J. Tubbs is leaving behind a legacy he is proud of.
That legacy includes a police department that spends more time offering "service," to residents than having to chase criminals and one that is fully staffed with seven officers.
Tubbs has spent a lot of time working to make the village a safe place and one where the residents know the police officers and that they can depend on them for help.
Leaving town and need someone to check your home? No problem, the Buchanan police will be happy to check the home each day.
Need a baby car seat installed? Sure, there's an officer for that.
But there's also an officer in a car for each square mile of the village to make sure it stays that way.
"I'm very proud of the staffing and the way we cover the village," Tubbs said.
There are not many places where a police officer will stop by the local school to just walk through a couple of times a day to make sure things are safe and sound.
Or, if you lock yourself out of your car there is an officer that will help you get the doors open.
But Buchanan is no "Mayberry" and the officers and chief are trained for "real-life" situations including active shooters and emergency medical situations as well.
"We are lucky to have help whenever needed under the Westchester Mutual Aid Plan," the chief said.
The plan includes a collaboration of area police departments that can handle large-style events such as bombings or terrorism.
He's also proud of the way all of the officers are trained for medical emergencies and have full first-aid, oxygen tanks, and defibrillators in each vehicle. Thanks to a lot of work years ago by Tubbs and another officer.
It also helps to be the President of the Cortland Community Volunteer Ambulance Corps. A job that Tubbs plans to devote much more time to once he is retired.
After years of working his way up the chain of command from officer to detective to sergeant, and finally to chief 15 years ago, Tubbs said he is ready for something different.
Tubbs has done a lot for the department over the years, but he's a little hesitant to toot his own horn.
"I'm leaving the department in good hands," he said.
And, he's not even worried about his wife thinking he will just sit around.
"I plan to be very busy," he laughed. "I have plenty to do around the house that hasn't been done in years and I have the ambulance corps and I would like to get back into helping with dog rescues. I'm' not worried, it will be a busy life."
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