Amanda Purcell reports for Columbia-Greene Media that three police raids in Hudson earlier this month led to a heated discussion at the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Public Safety Committee meeting June 20. The Shared Services Team raided three Hudson homes June 5 with military-grade weapons. “Chief [Edward] Moore, we have a position and opinion on how you serve us,” Fourth Ward Supervisor Linda Mussmann said. “You are our guardians, you are not warriors who come in military equipment and military machinery and force our community to be occupied by these police forces.” Retired Columbia County Sheriff James Bertram disagreed. “Eighteen years ago, we had a SWAT team, we had military gear, full automatic weapons and a van,” he said. “The first thing you want is safety for the officers going in; second, safety for the public; and third, safety for the criminals that they are going in after. In all the years I was sheriff, we never had one civilian injured and we never had a deputy injured because they had the proper gear.” Moore found something of a middle ground. “This kind of conversation doesn’t annoy me or offend me; it is part of the process,” Moore said. “I said at the beginning, I would accept criticism when this done.” He said the Shared Services Team has only been employed once this year. The conversation will continue at the Police Committee of the Common Council meeting at 6 p.m. June 25 in the Common Council Chambers, 520 Warren St. Read the full story at HudsonValley360.com.