Four Sheriffs Stand Down After Decades of Service |
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At the end of this month, four Sheriffs will step down from their careers after more than 150 years of combined service in law enforcement. The New York State Sheriffs’ Association offers its congratulations and best wishes on their new endeavors. |
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Rensselaer County Sheriff Patrick A. Russo |
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A Troy, NY native, Sheriff Russo served for 28 years with the Troy Police Department, where he advanced from uniformed officer to Detective Sergeant and to head of the Narcotics Bureau, a position he held for eight years. He was Rensselaer County Undersheriff for 12 years before being serving two terms as Sheriff starting in 2016.
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Seneca County Sheriff W. Timothy Luce |
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Sheriff W. Timothy Luce started his law enforcement career in 1984 when he was hired by Sheriff Kenneth Greer. In 1986 he was promoted to the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division (CID).
In 1989 Sheriff Luce transferred to the Waterloo Village Police Department, where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant until his retirement in 2009. He worked as a part-time officer at the Waterloo Police Department and also was hired back at the Seneca County Sheriff's Office by Sheriff Jack Stenberg to handle pistol permits and other administration duties. He was elected Seneca County Sheriff, taking office in 2016 and serving two terms.
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St. Lawrence County Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe |
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Brooks Bigwarfe’s retirement caps a 36-year career with the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office. He served in a variety of positions, including Deputy, K-9 Officer, D.A.R.E. Instructor, and Undersheriff. He was elected Sheriff in 2020.
“To all the men and women who worked for me, your service has been invaluable. I personally would like to thank each and every member of my staff for your constant support and professional duty. Keep up the good work of protecting and serving our County.”
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Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike |
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Sheriff Ron Spike has been with the Yates County Sheriff’s Office since 1970. He grew up living in the Sheriff’s residence attached to the old 1904 county jail. His father George was Sheriff from 1958 to 1981. Upon graduation from Monroe Community College in 1970, Ron was hired as a Deputy Sheriff, served on road and marine patrol and was the first agency Youth Officer.
In 1973, he was promoted to Detective. In 1982, he was promoted to Chief Deputy Sheriff where he supervised the law enforcement bureau and CID. He started his first term as an elected Sheriff on January 1, 1992, subsequently serving eight terms.
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New Sheriffs Get a Glimpse at Their Roles in the Office |
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Incoming Sheriffs, their Undersheriff Designees and five additional Undersheriffs appointed in 2023 took part in the New Sheriffs’ Seminar held in early December at the Sheriffs’ Association headquarters in Albany. Presenters included veteran Sheriffs from Broome, Delaware, Fulton, Oneida, Ulster and Yates Counties. Topic sessions included Training Issues Facing New Sheriffs, The County Jail: It Doesn’t Have to be a Headache, Civil Service Issues, Statutory Duties of the Sheriff and much, much more – all packed into two and a half days. |
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A Look at the Civil Division – Captain Mike Grossi of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office gives a primer during his presentation, What a New Sheriff Needs to Know about the Civil Process.
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The Sheriff’s Partner in Law Enforcement – New York State Police Acting Superintendent Dominick L. Chiumento offers new Sheriffs the support and services of his of his team.
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At Attention – (l to r) St. Lawrence County Sheriff-Elect Rick Engle, St. Lawrence County Undersheriff Designee Shawn McCargar and Orleans County Undersheriff Don Draper take in a presentation during the Seminar.
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Profiles of Undersheriff Leadership – (l to r) Undersheriffs Dustin Smietana (Chenango County), James Mullen (Ulster County), Chad Burhans (Cortland County) and Jeff Brown (Saratoga County) are all ears.
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Wait, There Are More – Other attendees shown above are (l to r) Seneca County Undersheriff Designee Melinda Marquart, Seneca County Sheriff-Elect Tim Thompson, Yates County Sheriff-Elect Frank Ryan, Yates County Undersheriff Designee Brandon Jensen, Rensselaer County Sheriff-Elect Kyle Bourgault and Rensselaer County Undersheriff Designee Mike Denardo.
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With Best Wishes – The new leaders were given a pocket badge as a welcome gift following a group dinner. The badges were presented by Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting (left in photo), who serves as Chair of the Association’s Executive Committee. He is shown here congratulating Ulster County Undersheriff James Mullen.
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Clinton County Sheriff Testifies in DC |
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While much of the focus on illegal immigration has been on the Southern U.S. border, Clinton County Sheriff David Favro (pictured) testified in Washington, DC on how the surge of migrants crossing into the United States from Canada is impacting law enforcement and first responders.
The Committee on Homeland Security’s subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology hearing was held to assess how the border crisis is affecting emergency management and law enforcement. During his opening statement, Favro said it is critical that Congress act to secure the border.
“The influx of transient populations funneled through our region has not only raised concerns, but has led to a surge in emergency response calls,” noted Favro. “The impact on our emergency management is evident.”
Favro noted that 911 calls have increased, and the influx of migrants leads to increased costs — expenses that strain an already diminished budget.
“It puts a strain not only on the volume of calls and taking away those emergency responders from other necessities within the community, but it also puts an additional mental health risk on the responders that are going to these situations.”
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Also in DC, Monroe County Sheriff Presents at a Program |
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Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter (pictured) was in Washington, DC in early December for the State and Local Leaders Summit: Best Practices in the Collective Fight Against Domestic Violent Extremism.
“Participating in roundtable discussions, sharing @roctac and how it was built as a grassroots organization,” noted Sheriff Baxter on the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
ROCTAC, the Rochester Threat Advisory Committee, was formed by area law enforcement agencies, along with public and private organizations, to protect County residents through community-based intervention approaches.
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Death of an Onondaga Deputy Gave Birth to Move Over Law |
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November 29 marked the 20th anniversary of the death of Onondaga County Sheriff’s Deputy Glenn Searles (pictured), killed by a passing vehicle while aiding a disabled motorist.
Following the incident, the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office added more yellow lights on the backs of its cars and in their trunks. They worked with the New York State Police for years to make the Move Over Law a reality. Now, drivers must slow down and move over when they see emergency lights.
Former Onondaga County Undersheriff Warren Darby recalls the effort to put the law in place. “It was forever. Going back and forth to meetings and going to Albany and saying ‘come on, guys,’” Darby noted. “Twenty-six states at that time had move over laws and New York didn’t. Now there are only two states that don’t.”
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Sheriffs Show Solidarity with Other Law Enforcement Agencies |
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Earlier this fall, a number of Sheriffs from the Hudson Valley, Southern Tier and Central New York met with NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban, members of the Jewish community and other law enforcement officials in New York City.
“Our trip made clear that we stand united in keeping New Yorkers safe regardless of jurisdiction, and equally important is that we stand in solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters during this difficult time for Israel,” noted Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar, who attended with Broome County Undersheriff Sammy Davis.
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Among the Sheriffs attending were Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond and Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta. If you can identify other Sheriffs in the above photo or know other Sheriffs who attended, let the File 25 editor know.
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Montgomery Co. Sheriff's Office Earns LEACC Reaccreditation |
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The Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council (LEAAC) has reaccredited the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for another five years.
"This reaccreditation is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff,” said Sheriff Jeff Smith. “It reflects our ongoing commitment to serving our community at the highest standard. We appreciate the recognition and will continue to uphold these principles in our daily operations."
Pictured (l – r) are Council Chairman Gregory Austin, Sheriff Smith and Undersheriff Carl Rust.
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Saratoga County Sheriff's Office is Also Reaccredited by LEACC |
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From Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo (pictured right in photo with Council Chair Austin): “We are pleased to have been recertified as a New York State Accredited Agency [by the LEACC], a certification that we have held since 1993. We strive to provide the highest level of service and professionalism to the citizens and visitors of Saratoga County.”
Congratulations to the Montgomery and Saratoga County Sheriff’s Offices.
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It’s that time of year . . . the New York State Sheriffs' Association Annual Winter Training Conference at the Crown Plaza Albany / Desmond Hotel is a month away. Registration is now open.
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Join high-level leadership from federal agencies, members of Congress and very active Sheriffs who come together to explore current legislation, learn about relevant topics and explore trending technologies and products.
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The Committee on Policing and Safeguarding Schools has announced its third annual C-PASS School Safety Training Conference and Networking Dinner, a four-day event at the Holiday Inn in Saratoga Springs. This is the premier training event for School Resource Officers and School Resource Deputies in New York State. Don’t miss it!
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Filicetti the Grinch Buster |
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Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti (center in photo) was in the right place at the right time to thwart that perennial enemy of Christmas, The Grinch! The meanie was busted - caught green-handed with a dust-busting apparatus during the Sheriff’s Office annual Shop with a Cop event, where Sheriff’s Office staff partnered with the New York State Police, New York State Park Police and the Department of Environmental Conservation Police.
A similar scene was played out at other Sheriff’s Office events throughout the state, as staff worked to provide the happiest and most memorable holidays for its citizens. Keep up the good work!
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