Police competency was questionable to local residents. There would be a sighting, and then Phillips would get away. This pattern was repeated for weeks and then months. Locals referred to cops as "keystones" and seemed to favor the idea of Phillip's being on the loose, due to his ability to escape capture, despite being seen in the area, and the hundreds of troopers brought into Chautauqua County. No figures have been officially released, but some reports state that New York State spent $8 million on the manhunt from April until August 2006. Many locals resented the police presence. New York State Police were also criticized for not involving local law enforcement agencies in the search. The police experienced "deficiencies" with the radio system and started to use their phones to communicate in the belief that Phillips was monitoring dispatches.