The Office of Sheriff was on the ballot in 18 counties last week. In 10 of those races the incumbent ran unopposed. Two of the races, Erie and Putnam counties, are too close to call at this time.
In Suffolk County there was no incumbent. In Chemung and Columbia counties, the incumbent Sheriffs (Moss and Bartlett) prevailed over their challengers. In the remaining three races (Madison, Monroe, and Schoharie) the incumbent was defeated.
In Onondaga County, a referendum to consolidate administration of county correctional facilities under the office of the sheriff was approved by the voters.
Finally, retired 7-term Sheriff Gary Maha was on the ballot in Genesee County for a seat on the county legislature and prevailed over the incumbent.
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No Incumbent: Suffolk County
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In Suffolk County, Sheriff Vincent DeMarco chose not to run for an 4th term. Errol Toulon, Jr., a Democrat, narrowly defeated Republican candidate Lawrence Zacarese by a margin of 1,347 votes.
Mr. Toulon has 30 years of criminal justice experience, including 22 years as a uniformed Member of Service with the New York City Correction Department, where he served as a supervisor and instructor at the Correction Academy, the Firearms and Tactics Unit, Emergency Service Unit and Office of Compliance Consultants. He has since served as Suffolk County Assistant Deputy County Executive for Public Safety, where he supervised eight public-safety departments, and as Deputy Commissioner of Operations for the New York City Correction Department where he oversaw the Applicant Investigation Unit, Training Academy, Correction Intelligence Bureau, Emergency Preparedness and the Policy and Procedures Unit.
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Incumbent Races Incumbent Won: Chemung & Columbia Counties
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Chemung County Sheriff Chris Moss, who first took office in 2006, was elected to a 4th term. Sheriff Moss defeated Art Laurey who ran as an Independent.
Laurey, a 26-year sheriff's office employee in the corrections division, also unsuccessfully challenged Moss in 2013.
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Columbia County Sheriff Dave Bartlett, who first took office in 2014, was elected to a 2nd term. Sheriff Bartlett defeated Peter Volkmann, the Chatham Police Chief who ran as a democrat on his track record fighting the opioid epidemic.
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Incumbent Races - Challenger Won: Madison, Monroe, & Schoharie Counties
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Acting Madison County Sheriff and Undersheriff John Ball was defeated by Republican challenger Todd Hood (pictured above). Mr. Hood, an investigator with the Onondaga County District Attorney, is a 23-year veteran of the Syracuse Police Department, where he served as SWAT supervisor for 22 years and as a detective with the Gang Task Force. and deputized U.S. Marshal A lifelong resident of Madison County, Mr. Hood is also a Deputized United States Marshall in the NY/NJ Regional Fugitive Task Force.
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Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn was denied a 5th term with the stunning upset victory of former Greece Police Chief
Todd Baxter (pictured above). Mr. Baxter, who crossed party lines to run as a democrat, served in the Rochester Police Department for 23 years, where he achieved the rank of captain and served as SWAT Team Commander. Since retiring, he has served as the City of Greece Chief of Police and as the Executive Director of Veterans Outreach Center. Mr. Baxter was a Master Sergeant in the United States Army.
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Two-term Schoharie County Sheriff Anthony Desmond was defeated by challenger Ron Stevens (pictured left) who has served as Desmond's Undersheriff for 7 years.
Mr. Stevens served 33 years with the state police, where he: commanded the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force; started the NYS Police Computer Crime Unit, growing it into a national recognized department; was Captain and Director of NYS Police Computer Crime Unit for 10 years; was an Investigator conducting homicide, narcotics and felony investigations. Mr. Stevens is a US Army Bronze Star Vietnam Veteran.
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Cattaraugus County Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb, who first took office in 2010, was elected for a third term.
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Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting, Jr., who first took office in 2010, was elected for a third term.
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Hamilton County Sheriff Karl Abrams, who first took office in 2010, was elected for a third term.
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Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, who first took office in 2014, was elected for a second term.
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Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo, who first took office in 2014, was elected for a second term.
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Schenectady County Sheriff Dominic Dagostino, who first took office in 2010, was elected for a third term.
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Schuyler County Sheriff William Yessman, who first took office in 2006, was elected for a fourth term.
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Sullivan County Sheriff Michael Schiff, who first took office in 2006, was elected for a fourth term.
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Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts, who first took office in 2010, was elected for a third term.
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Wyoming County Sheriff Gregory Rudolph, who first took office in 2013, was elected for a second term.
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Onondaga County Voters Approve Referendum Consolidating Correctional Facility Oversight under the Office of the Sheriff
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Voters approved a referendum in Onondaga County that moves the control of the Jamesville Correctional Facility from the County Executive to the Office of the Sheriff. Onondaga County had been the only county in New York state that still divides jail operations between the sheriff and county executive.
For decades, the sheriff's office has operated the Justice Center jail, which houses prisoners awaiting trial. But the Jamesville facility, where convicted inmates serve their sentences, has been run by the Onondaga County Department of Correction.
Voter approval was required after the Onondaga County Legislature voted in August to allow the Jamesville facility and Onondaga County Justice Center jail in downtown Syracuse to be managed by Onondaga County Sheriff Eugene Conway.
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Former Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha Returns to County Level Public Service
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Gary Maha, center, checking out the unofficial vote total.
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Retired seven-term Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha made a successful bid for the Genesee County Legislature in the ninth district — covering the city of Batavia’s fourth and fifth wards. Backed by the City of Batavia Republican Committee, Gary ran against incumbent Edward DeJaneiro. Unofficial election results show Gary winning with 476 votes to Mr. DeJaneiro's 415.
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Sheriffs' Winter Training Conference
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84th Annual
Sheriffs' Winter Conference
January 21 to
January 24, 2018
Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Albany
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Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike delivers Slow Moving Vehicle Awareness training in Essex County to members of the Essex County Sheriff’s Office and NYSP. Hosted by Essex County Sheriff Richard Cutting.
The NYS Sheriffs’ Institute sponsored law enforcement training November 3, 2017 at the Essex County Public Safety Building in Lewis, NY for
SLOW MOVING VEHICLES AND RELATED TRAFFIC ISSUES in relationship to several vehicles in this category both mechanized, agriculture and horse drawn types.
The instructor was Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike. The presentation had 25 in attendance with 14 members of the Essex Co. Sheriff’s Office, 2 members from the St. Lawrence Co Sheriff’s Office, 1 member from the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, 6 members from the New York State Police Troop B, and 2 members of the NYS Governors Traffic Safety Committee.
Thanks to Sheriff Spike for conducting the training session, Sheriff Cutting for sponsoring a location and Anthony D’Agostino, the NYSSA rep to the GTSC, for providing statistics on this rising traffic safety and law enforcement investigation issue that effects New York's rural areas.
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Correction - Special Accreditation Issue
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We would like to correct the record regarding an error that appeared in our last issue, the Special Accreditation Issue. The blue-shaded counties on the map of NYS hold at least one accreditation.
Saratoga County, which in fact holds three accreditations, was not shaded. Our apologies and thanks to those who wrote to let us know. We have included a corrected map, above.
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New York State Sheriffs' Association | 518-434-9091 | www.nysheriffs.org
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