UTICA - Officer Dzenan Sabanovic is out of the hospital, but has not yet returned to work. His recent assault has brought to light once more what police officials say is a stunning lack of respect for officers; a lack of respect that can have deadly consequences.

The murder five months ago of Utica Police Officer Thomas Lindsey shined the brightest light on this problem.

The assault of another young officer, allegedly at the hands of local teens, has served as a disturbing reminder. Utica's Police Chief believes an erosion of family values is probably to blame for it.

The mother of two of the teens under arrest for Officer Sabanovic's assault is also under arrest, accused of interfering with police as they tried to arrest her sons.

Pylman is hard-pressed for a way to fix the problem; so they do what they can. 

When it comes to protecting officers, a few ways they're doing that is through the use of taser guns which will be in the hands of officers by mid-October. Other methods include cameras and GPS tracking devices which should be in patrol cars by year's end. 

UPD and the Oneida County D.A.'s office are looking at putting cameras up on telephone polls in high crime areas.

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