Sheriff’s Offices throughout New York State hold long-standing memorial services every May to remember the service and sacrifice of their colleagues from years, decades and even centuries past. These events, combined with this month’s annual nationwide appreciation events for Corrections Officers and for Nurses working in corrections facilities, highlight the dedication of the men and women who represent law and order in today’s world.

Below is a small sampling of events held to remember the fallen.

New York State

The New York State Police Officers Memorial Remembrance Ceremony at the Empire State Plaza in Albany was held on May 5 (pictured). More than 500 law enforcement professionals, family members, and friends gathered with Governor Kathy Hochul. The names of 56 men and women were added to the memorial; View the 50-minute video of the ceremony here.

Columbia County Sheriff’s Office

The one name added to the memorial this year representing a Sheriff’s Office was that of Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Bernard A. Roberts (pictured, left), who passed away in 2021. His name now stands among those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.

Deputy Roberts left work early on October 15, 2021, with symptoms of COVID-19. His physician confirmed the diagnosis. Just weeks later, Roberts was found unresponsive by a family member who had been unable to establish contact with him. He passed away on November 7, 2021.

The Deputy’s family attended, including his mother, Sheila Roberts (pictured right), joining Columbia County Sheriff Jacqueline Salvatore.

Ontario County Sheriff’s Office

From a post on the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:

“[D]uring our wreath laying ceremony in honor of National Police Week, we gathered to remember the four members of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. We proudly honored:

• Deputy Malcolm Strong - EOW: February 2, 1983

• Deputy Truman Becker - EOW: July 17, 1981

• Deputy Jack Fennell - EOW: August 31, 1951

• Undersheriff Ernest Kerskie - EOW: October 25, 1937

“We extend our deepest gratitude to the families of our fallen officers for joining us today. Your loved ones will always be remembered and honored by the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office.”

Oswego County Sheriff’s Office

From a post on the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:

“To kick off National Police Week, members of our Sheriff’s Office (above) proudly participated in the National Police Week 5K memorial run with Oswego Police Department, honoring the brave law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Our deputies and investigators were honored to run alongside fellow law enforcement officers in remembrance of those heroes who will never be forgotten.”

Show of Force – Sheriffs pose on one of the stairways in the Capitol Building in Albany following a press conference stating their objections to the Governor’s proposed immigration legislation. Sheriffs and command staff attending included Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar, Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms, Genesee County Sheriff Joseph Graff, Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky and Undersheriff Tracey Quinn, Herkimer County Sheriff Scott Scherer, Jefferson County Sheriff Peter Barnett, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood (not pictured above), Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, Ontario County Sheriff Dave Cirencione, Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault with Undersheriff Michael Dinardo and Chief Deputy Stephen Seney, Schoharie County Sheriff Albro Fancher and Steuben County Sheriff James Allard.

Voicing their Objections to Proposed Immigration Legislation

Late last month, Sheriffs from a dozen Counties converged on the State Capitol to express concerns about proposed reforms barring 287(g) agreements that deputize local authorities for immigration matters, noting that the legislature should not unduly interfere with Sheriffs' judgement and independence in carrying out their Constitutional duties to protect and serve the public.

“We must not and cannot allow the erosion of the very independence that makes accountability meaningful,” Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar said. “When current and continued government overreach begins to blur the lines between policy and policing, it risks turning public safety into a political instrument rather than community service.”

View Sheriff Akshar speaking on behalf of the NYSSA in this 7:00-minute reel. 


Read NYSSA’s official statement included with the Press Conference materials.

Supporting the PROTECT Act to Enhance Bail Reform Measures

That same day, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood was one of several Sheriffs representing NYSSA at a second press conference on behalf of Bail Reform measures for the State, urging legislators to pass what’s known as the PROTECT Act (pretrial risk overview for threat evaluation, custody, and treatment), “to create a risk assessment instrument which can be used by courts to make decisions regarding pretrial custody, prevent reoffending during pretrial release, and clearly allow for referral of defendants suffering from mental illness to the appropriate venue.”

The bill is sponsored by State Senator Pamela Helming, pictured with Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter (left) and Ontario County Sheriff Dave Cirencione.

“We’re the only state in the nation that doesn’t have, in its law, the ability for judges to determine the dangerousness of an individual [when making bail decisions]. We want to be like the other 49 states and the federal government and allow us to present information to a judge that may show this person is a danger to himself or to society,” said Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter. “Then the judge can make a determination on whether they should be detained or released.” Along with Sheriff Hood, Sheriffs Baxter and Cirencione also spoke at the press conference.

A Deserving Recipient – Orleans County Sheriff Christopher Bourke speaks from the podium after receiving his award (Image provided by @bashert photo).



Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) New York, STOP–DWI and The Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee hosted their Annual Law Enforcement Recognition Event at the Albany Capital Center last month, where Orleans County Sheriff Christopher M. Bourke was awarded the Maureen McCormick Lifetime Achievement award, recognizing the lifetime commitment of others to keeping the roads of New York safe and for protecting communities from the preventable crimes of drunk and impaired driving.

Sheriff Bourke has committed over 40 years of service to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and is known and respected as being proactive in impaired driving enforcement, routinely making DWI arrests. Under Sheriff Bourke’s leadership, there has been a 150% increase in DWI arrests by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. Congratulations, Sheriff!

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office sponsored an emotional and moving concert inside the Monroe County Jail (above) as incarcerated individuals collaborated with Eastman School of Music students to create and perform unique musical pieces. The incarcerated individuals created the pieces with a computer software program called Hyperscore. Eastman School of Music students then performed the original works.

“This partnership speaks to the power of the many rehabilitative services offered in MCJ to those looking to make a positive change in their lives,” noted a spokesperson from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Earlier this month, Ulster County Sheriff and NYSSA President Juan Figueroa (pictured above at far right) attended a listening session in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC), inviting Sheriffs and Association leaders to the table.

The session, billed as "All Sheriffs Authority," provided a forum to address actions that challenge the Constitutional authority held by Sheriff's Offices, such as movements to have Sheriffs appointed rather than elected. From this and other examples, discussion centered on three points:

• How Sheriffs lead when a local issue becomes a national flashpoint,

• How Sheriffs lead the Office amid heightened public scrutiny and

• The priority and emerging issues facing the Office of the Sheriff more broadly.

Opportunities for discussion of these issues help the NIC create programming that can assist Sheriff's Offices. Similarly, it has spurred Sheriff Figueroa to shape his own ideas, such as developing long-term mentoring partnerships with new Sheriffs and establishing stronger relationships with government and law enforcement representatives.

Sheriff Figueroa also attended a second NIC meeting this month in Madison, WI, which will be covered in the next Volume of File 25.

Two NYSSA training conferences were held over the last month that provided beneficial information to Sheriff's Office Confidential Secretaries / Administrative Assistants and to personnel who work in Sheriff's Office Civil Divisions. Below are a few scenes from each conference.

Confidential secretaries and administrative staff from Sheriff’s Offices across New York State came together in Saratoga Springs last month to share ideas, learn from each other, and take part in sessions on everything from public safety programs and stress management to the growing role of AI and social media in law enforcement.

The people who serve in these roles are often the first point of contact for the public and the backbone of daily operations inside every Sheriff’s Office. Bringing them together to connect and learn from one another only makes those Offices stronger.

Washington County Sheriff and former NYSSA President Jeff Murphy (above left) leads a discussion on how AI is impacting the Office of the Sheriff.

Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown (above left) welcomed attendees and presented certificates of completion at the end of the conference. Joanna Agnello (above right), a Professor from the Behavioral Sciences Department of the City University of New York, spoke on stress management techniques. Other topics included social media savvy for law enforcement agencies and roundtable discussions of the responsibilities and challenges of the Administrative Assistant Professional.

Civil supervisors are responsible for the handling, service and accounting of all process and monies received by the Civil Division. This conference focuses on best practices for the service of process and handling of these funds. The main feature of the conference is the annual Civil Scenarios Roundtable, where groups are presented with situations that impact the Civil Division, launching discussions (above) which lead to appropriate solutions that are presented to all attendees.

Additional speakers included Wendi Curtis (above left) from the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, and Jesse Genter (below right) from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office. Both presenters led a discussion on the creation of the Civil Resource Hub and provided an update on Civil Accreditation Manual Revisions.

Dan Acquilano (below left), Manager of Local Official Training at the New York Office of the State Comptroller, addressed the topic of fraud detection and prevention.

All Secure - Livingston County Sheriff Tom Dougherty (left) and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe pose during a presentation of the plaque recognizing reaccreditation of the Livingston County Sheriff's Office Court Security Division.

After meeting a strict set of standards, the Livingston County Sheriff's Office received reaccreditation of its Court Security Division, only one of eleven counties in the state to have accreditation in this area.

The Sheriff’s Office also holds the difficult-to-obtain Jail Division accreditation, Civil accreditation, PSAP accreditation and Law Enforcement Accreditation.

Reaccreditation Confirmed — Above from left, Warren County Undersheriff Terry Comeau, Correction Office Jeremy Coons, Lieutenant Wayne Farmer, Sheriff Jim LaFarr and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe.

The Warren County Sheriff’s Office was recognized for achieving reaccreditation of its Correctional Facility by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, reaffirming the commitment to maintain high levels of professionalism, safety, and operational excellence within its correctional operations. There are 32 Sheriff’s Offices in New York State with accredited Correctional Facilities.

The leadership exhibited by several members of the Sheriff’s Office was recognized by Sheriff Jim LaFarr, who noted their important contributions to the operation of the correctional facility: Captain Albert Maday, Lieutenant Wayne Farmer, and Lieutenant Daniel Clifford. In addition, Correction Officer Jeremy Coons was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation for his work in successfully managing and coordinating the demanding reaccreditation process.

NYSSA Undersheriff's Training Conference | June 1 – 3

Each June, Undersheriffs from around the state attend the Undersheriffs’ Training Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. Undersheriffs in many counties are primarily responsible for administrative matters in the sheriff’s office. Our conferences provide training in such areas as labor management, employee discipline, and management of employee benefits (such disability payments, family, health, and military leave). Since all major divisions of the sheriffs’ office -law enforcement, county jail, civil division, and court security- report directly to the Undersheriff, we also provide training in those areas and invite representatives from state and federal agencies who provide or administer programs in these areas. About 20 businesses from around the country participate in a trade show at the conference each spring.

National Sheriffs' Association Annual Conference | June 8 – 11

Explore the NSA Annual Conference, one of the nation’s premier events for law enforcement professionals, this year in Omaha, Nebraska.

As the largest gathering of its kind, the conference features a can’t-miss trade show packed with the latest products, tools, and equipment supporting every corner of the profession, from patrol and jail operations to prisoner transport and courtroom security.

Across four high-energy days, you’ll dive into curated seminars and educational sessions built for law enforcement at every level. Expect timely, practical takeaways on topics such as recruitment and retention, jail operations, officer wellness, and the latest law enforcement technologies, plus much more. Come ready to learn, connect, and bring fresh ideas back to your agency. The above link leads to the Conference registration page. Sign up now!

Going to the Dogs . . . in a Good Way

Below are two short reels that show how a dog’s life at times can be challenging but also rewarding.

Livingston County Dogs Find their "Furever" Home

Last December, the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office took over dog-control operations for the County and have been profiling their work online. This reel shows how two of their canine crew, Cozzie and Missile, found their forever home.

Dutchess County K-9 Has a Ruff Day

From the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:

“We all have those days… even K9 Scout.(pictured right)

“In partnership with the incredible staff at James S. Evans Elementary School in the Wappingers Central School District, we brought Scout’s story to life in “Scout and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Ruff Day,” a fun twist on the classic Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst.

“Even on a terrible, horrible, no good, very ruff day, Scout is reminded that with a little patience, support, and a strong community, things can always turn around…and that’s exactly what we see here in Dutchess County every day.”

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