Primary Results Move Sheriff Candidates Forward |
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Three primaries for Sheriff across western New York opened pathways for several candidates seeking the top law-enforcement post in Erie, Schuyler and Wayne Counties. |
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ERIE COUNTY____________________________________________
Kim Beaty (pictured) won the Democratic primary with 51% of the votes, running against Cheektowaga Assistant Police Chief Brian Gould and Community Activist Myles Carter, to replace retiring Sheriff Tim Howard. Kim Beaty is the former Buffalo Deputy Police Commissioner.
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Republican candidate John Garcia (pictured) was declared the Republican primary winner with 60% of the votes. Garcia ran against Karen Healy-Case. Garcia is also a veteran of the Buffalo Police Department.
To complicate the race, former Amherst Police Lieutenant Ted DiNoto will be on the November ballot for Sheriff as an independent and Healy-Case will run on the Conservative Party line.
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SCHUYLER COUNTY_______________________________________________________________
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Schuyler County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Kevin Rumsey (pictured) won the County's Republican primary election for Sheriff, defeating Undersheriff Breck Spaulding. Sheriff Bill Yessman earlier this year announced he would not be seeking a fifth term.
No candidate is running on the Democratic side, but both Rumsey and Spaulding have minor party lines, so there may still be a race in November on those individual lines.
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WAYNE COUNTY_______________________________________________________________
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Wayne County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Robert Milby (pictured) defeated Stephen MacNeal, Jr., a Sergeant with the Town of Macedon Police Department in the Republican primary election to replace Sheriff Barry Virts, who will be retiring after serving as Sheriff since 2009.
Milby secured nearly 64 percent of the votes, while MacNeal received 36 percent.
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New Undersheriff for Madison County |
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Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood (above, left) recently announced the appointment of William Wilcox (center) as the new Undersheriff. Undersheriff Wilcox was sworn in June 14, succeeding Undersheriff Robert Lenhart, who retired. In a subsequent announcement, Sheriff Hood promoted Lance Zaleski to Deputy Sheriff Captain.
Congratulations and best wishes to both in their new roles!
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Washington County Sheriff's Office Launches New Month-in-Review Video Series |
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As explained in the video's opening remarks, this new series is designed “to give you a look at what has kept us busy here at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. . . . Our goal is to give you a look at the things you may or may not have heard about as the Sheriff’s Office strives to best serve the community in a multitude of ways.”
The inaugural video was produced and narrated by Washington County Sheriff Lt. Todd Lemery. Check it out by clicking the link above!
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Niagara County Sheriffs Up their Game Engaging the Community |
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Sporting Life – At Legends Park in the City of Niagara Falls, Falls Mayor Robert Restaino (above, center) joined Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti and Doug Rifenburg, Founder and Executive Director of Victory Sport Global Outreach, Inc., announcing a partnership between Niagara County law-enforcement agencies and Victory Sport.
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Fresh off of a two-year partnership with the Buffalo Police Department, Victory Sports Global Outreach and representatives of law-enforcement agencies in Niagara County announced they would begin a program to outfit every patrol car in the County with a duffle bag containing a basketball, football and soccer ball, giving officers another way to engage with youth in their communities.
“We started four years ago to use sports to impact our community for the good,” said Doug Rifenburg, Founder and Executive Director of Victory Sport Global Outreach, Inc. “It’s a way to build bridges with kids in the community.”
Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti praised Victory Sports for reaching out to local law enforcement after its successful approach in Buffalo.
“Community outreach is a significant part of what we do on a daily basis," noted Sheriff Filicetti. "With help from Victory Sports, we are able to reach out to our kids and build relationships."
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Cayuga County Sheriff Gets to Know Community Activists |
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Like the Song Says - (l to r) Auburn Police Department Chief Shawn Butler, Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace (HTCJP) Chair Bill Berry, Jr. and Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck at the HTCJP’s Second Annual Getting to Know You event in late June.
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The Harriet Tubman Center for Justice and Peace hosted its 2nd annual Getting to Know You event in Auburn, bringing together law enforcement and social justice advocates.
Begun in August 2020, the gathering enables two community groups – nationally perceived to be at odds on policing issues – to get to know each other on a personal level unburdened by uniform, job position or media representation that all too often presents a one-dimensional picture of either group. Over 30 attendees convened for an afternoon of relaxed and fun conversations over cookout fare.
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Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Receives NSA Award |
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The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Anti-Trafficking Initiative (SATI) was honored with the Crime Victim Services Award at the National Sheriff’s Association Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Undersheriff Steven Kuehhas (pictured, on right) accepted the award on behalf of the Sheriff’s Office.
The Anti-Trafficking Initiative was the first of its kind in the country operating from inside a correctional facility. SATI has been pioneering the campaign against human trafficking from the correctional standpoint. The unit works in collaboration with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies by developing and forwarding intelligence gleaned from the correctional facility setting. Congratulations to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office for this recognition.
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Essex County Deputies Commended for their Actions |
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Earlier this month, the Essex County Board of Supervisors recognized Deputies Hunter Farrell (l) and Kaycee Kolodzey (r), seen above with Sheriff Dave Reynolds, for their life-saving actions last April.
The Deputies had responded as EMTs to a call for a woman who had given birth at home and was hemorrhaging. On scene, the Deputies found a healthy newborn baby girl, but a mother who was in distress. They were able to stabilize the mother and get her safely transported to the hospital.
Currently the Essex County Sheriff’s Office has nine trained Deputy Sheriff EMTs.
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Deputy of the Year Award Presented to Onondaga Detective |
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For Bravery on the Job – (l - r) Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, Onondaga County Sheriff Detective Mark Grady, Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway and New York State Sheriffs' Institute Executive Director Chris O'Brien convene to honor Detective Grady as Deputy of the Year by the Sheriffs' Institute.
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Detective Mark Grady of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office was recently presented with the Sheriffs’ Institute Deputy of the Year award by Sheriff Gene Conway.
In July 2020, Detective Grady was on a narcotics investigation, conducting surveillance on a vehicle with out-of-state plates, which he followed as it parked in a narrow alley. Before he could stop, a man jumped out and started shooting at him. Detective Grady moved to return well-aimed fire with his service weapon from behind his car, subsequently striking one of the assailants and ending the threat on his life.
The vehicle fled the scene, but was located a few blocks away with one of the assailants gravely injured inside, who would later succumb to those injuries.The other assailants were charged with attempted second-degree murder of a police officer.
“Detective Grady acted with bravery and in complete accordance with his training and with the law,” Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said. “This incident should be a sobering reminder about the extremely dangerous environment police officers face on a daily basis.”
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Wayne County Deputy Receives Life Saving Award |
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Sergeant Aaron DiSanto (r) of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office received the Sheriffs’ Institute Deputy Sheriff Life Saving Award in May at the Wayne County Board of Supervisors meeting. Sheriff Ron Spike, Yates County, Chairman of the Board of Directors of New York State Sheriffs’ Institute, made the presentation.
Pictured with Deputy DiSanto is Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts.
In July 2020 the Wayne County 911 Center received a call reporting several people in the water were in distress, caught in Lake Ontario’s aggressive undercurrent. Sergeant DiSanto immediately responded to the scene and found three women in the water, which was extremely choppy and rough with a very strong undertow.
With the help of bystanders, Sergeant DiSanto secured a rope, entered the water and was able to rescue the three women. One of the women, a teenager, was unresponsive when Sergeant DiSanto pulled her from the water. She was administered immediate life-saving measures.
“Sergeant Aaron DiSanto showed professionalism, courage and leadership in the challenging and successful rescue of these three women,” stated Sheriff Spike. “He is an outstanding representation of the work law enforcement officers throughout this state and country do on a daily basis.”
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Communications Bureau Staff from Livingston County Recognized as Dispatcher of the Year |
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Recognized for Service — Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty (far left) poses with members of the Communications Bureau team and award presenters (l to r): Communications Bureau Director Schultz, Dispatcher Tinelli, Senior Dispatcher Snyder, Dispatcher Macauley, Dispatcher Alexander, NYSSI Executive Director Chris O'Brien, Dispatcher Mumms and Sheriff Ron Spike.
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Sheriff Thomas J. Dougherty announced members of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office have earned a prestigious award by the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute (NYSSI).
Senior Dispatcher Matthew Snyder, Dispatcher Mellisa Mumms, Dispatcher Gary Macauley, Dispatcher Rich Alexander, and Dispatcher Meaghan Tinelli, have all been honored as “Dispatcher of the Year” by the Sheriffs of New York State through the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute.
The members were nominated by Communications Bureau Director Amanda Schultz as a result of their actions on May 27, 2020, when a man armed with a gun was shooting at Deputies, as well as trying to ram his eighteen-wheel truck into patrol vehicles and oncoming traffic.
The dispatchers fielded 485 radio transmissions from the start of the incident until the closure. The members not only handled the incident, but continued to operate the center, including receiving 911 calls for other emergencies. Despite the stress level in the dispatch center, which was even greater than usual, the members of the Communications Bureau excelled in their duties, remaining calm under pressure.
“Our Dispatchers are second to none in the performance of their duties,” stated Sheriff Dougherty. “I commend them on their actions on May 27 and their excellent teamwork. I also recognize Director Schultz who came in off-duty and assisted the team. A job extremely well done by all.”
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Elizabeth Telian, Delaware County Sheriff's Office |
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Members of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office mourn the untimely loss of former staff member Elizabeth (Liz) Telian (pictured). Liz worked for the Office for more than 30 years, retiring in 2018 as Head Cook of the Corrections Facility and a Special Deputy and member of the Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol Division.
Liz literally grew up in the Sheriff’s Office. Her father was long-time Sheriff Levon (Stretch) Telian, who served from 1968 to1983. Liz had a passionate heart for all animals, especially horses, and could always be found caring and advocating for her furry friends. She will be greatly missed by her colleagues.
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Sheriffs' Summer Training Conference |
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The 86th Annual Sheriffs’ Summer Training Conference will be held at the Villa Roma, Calicoon, NY (Sullivan County) July 19 – 21. It is a family-friendly place with plenty of fun activities right on site.
There is still time to register and join your fellow Sheriffs at this important training event. Register for both the conference and the hotel via the link below:
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Inaugural Live C-PASS Class Is the First of Many |
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Attendees of the first live training seminar (above), sponsored by the Committee on Policing and Safeguarding Schools (C-PASS), pose after its conclusion. SROs and SRDs gathered in Bath, Steuben County at a daylong session on June 30 for training on Policing and Safeguarding Students with Disabilities.
“We look forward to our next event, Basic SRO School, July 19 – 23, 2021,” said Deputy Mike Gaita, C-PASS Program Director. “This is a multi-day program – also in Bath – and presented in conjunction with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. It is a pilot course for the new DCJS curriculum and attendees will receive DCJS certification. There are currently one or two open seats available. Spread the word.”
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Cortland County Sheriff Staff on the Run for Special Olympics |
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The Law Enforcement Torch Run for the Special Olympics was held last month in the village of Homer to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics. Law enforcement officers from the area and their family members joined athletes as the “Flame of Hope” was carried.
Pictured above are members of the Cortland County Sheriff's Office who participated in the event (l to r) Deputy Jacob Tyler, Deputy Joshua Alexander, Sergeant Chris Estep, Sergeant Kim Natoli, Deputy Chris Twigg, Deputy Cody Sandy and Deputy Neena Testa.
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Local Juneteenth Celebration Supported by Chemung County Sheriff's Office |
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Chemung County Sheriff Bill Schrom reports the Juneteenth event in Elmira had a great turnout with a variety of vendors, musicians, and other participants.
Lt. Scott Wheeler (pictured, left) and Sherry Mancini were running the Office’s Operation Safe Child program so parents could get IDs of their children. Great support by the Sheriff’s Office for a great event.
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