Volume 410
December 14, 2017
Sheriffs' Winter Training Conference
Sheriffs and Exhibitors Register Now!
84th Annual Sheriffs' Winter Conference

January 21 to 24, 2018

Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Albany, NY



See below for information about a Tuesday night dinner hosted by Securewatch24 and Sheriffs Apple, Russo and Zurlo where new thermal imaging cameras will be demonstrated.
RSVP directly to: pfox@securewatch24.com.
Seminar for New Sheriffs and Undersheriffs Held at Sheriffs' Association Headquarters
Participants in the Seminar for New Sheriffs, pictured above (l to r), were: recently appointed Albany County Undersheriff Michael Monteleone; Delaware County Acting-Sheriff/Sheriff-Elect Craig DuMond; Putnam County Sheriff-Elect Robert Langley, Jr.; recently appointed Greene County Undersheriff Tor Tryland; Putnam County Undersheriff Designee Michael Corrigan; Madison County Sheriff-Elect Todd Hood; Monroe County Sheriff-Elect Todd Baxter; Schoharie County Sheriff-Elect Ron Stevens; and Delaware County Undersheriff Designee Timothy Buckley.

The 2017 Seminar for New Sheriffs was attended by 5 newly elected Sheriffs and 4 new Undersheriffs. During the two-day program current Sheriffs and NYS Officials shared their knowledge and wisdom on a range of topics. Cattaraugus County Sheriff (& NYSSA President) Tim Whitcomb welcomed the new Sheriffs and Undersheriffs; Herkimer County Sheriff Chris Farber, Chairman of the NYSSA Jail Committee, discussed jail issues faced by Sheriffs; Ontario County Sheriff Phil Povero shared lessons learned in a long career; Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike gave an overview of training issues facing new Sheriffs and discussed the role of the Municipal Police Training Council; Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts explained “three interests” of the Office of Sheriff; and Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple shared his tips for new Sheriffs.

The new Sheriffs and Undersheriffs also heard presentations from: Commissioner Thomas Loughren, and Commissioner Allen Riley of the New York State Commission of Correction; Frank Belleville of the NYS Department of Civil Service; and James Allen, Director of the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee.

A full session was devoted to Civil Office issues. We are grateful to Chief Ron Bill (ret) of the Broome County Sheriff's Office, for presenting this session along with our Counsel, Tom Mitchell. Another session was devoted to jail issues and we are grateful to Jail Administrators: James Barrett from Schenectady County and Ron Harling from Monroe County, along with Columbia County Undersheriff John Davi and our Counsel Tom Mitchell for presenting this session.
NYSSA Deputy Director Chuck Gallo describes all of the programs we offer for sheriffs.
NYSSA Associate Counsel Alex Wilson presents our current legislative advocacy programs.
Executive Committee Meets in Albany
Fourteen Sheriffs and several guests met in Albany last Thursday for the Association’s last Executive Committee meeting of the year. Oswego County Sheriff Moe Todd, Executive Committee Chair, led the session, along with the NYSSA President, Cattaraugus County Sheriff Tim Whitcomb. The attendees had the opportunity to meet over lunch with the new Sheriffs and Undersheriffs who were also assembled at NYSSA headquarters for the New Sheriffs Seminar. A report on the business conducted at the meeting will be sent to all Sheriffs.
Errol Toulon, Jr. Wins Suffolk County Sheriff's Race
Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DeMarco chose not to run for an 4th term this year. The election to determine his successor was closely contested. A winner was not named until Republican Lawrence Zacarese conceded the race in late November after most of the absentee ballots had been counted.

In an eventful election year statewide, we can now confirm that Errol Toulon, Jr. will be Suffolk County's new sheriff. 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 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 and as Suffolk County Assistant Deputy County Executive for Public Safety, where he supervised eight public-safety departments.
Sheriffs in the News
Oneida County

Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol recognized 100 members of his department on December 5th at the NYS DHSES State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany. Achievements included service milestones, education, promotion, special recognition, and remarkable service in a number of categories. In the photo above, (front l to r) Julie Nagel-Barker; Nancy Snyder-Potaczala; and Marcella Knapp; (back l to r) Lisa Nagel and Sheriff Maciol.

Monroe County

Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn presented the law enforcement Purple Heart medal to his Undersheriff, Andrew Forsythe, on the 21st anniversary of the day he was shot in the line of duty, December 4, 1996. “For Drew to not only fully recover from serious injuries but rise through the ranks and ultimately be appointed undersheriff is a testament to his tenacity," Sheriff O’Flynn said in a release. “This speaks volumes to his character and determination as an individual. He is a shining example of the quality of people we employ at the Sheriff’s Office.” Read the full article, which recounts the events of 12/4/1996, here.
Essex County

Essex County Sheriff Richard Cutting (pictured left) recently announced that he will not run for a third term and will retire at the end of 2018. His Undersheriff, Michael Badger, (pictured right) announced his intention to run to be Sheriff Cutting's successor. Sheriff Cutting was appointed sheriff after his predecessor, Henry Hommes, died in office in 2010. Cutting then defeated Ike Tyler, a Democrat, and Robert Kirby, an independent, in the general election that year. In 2014 he ran for re-election unopposed. Undersheriff Badger, who has served as undersheriff for 7 years, said “I’m 30 years in, and I think I have a lot left to offer.”

Allegany County

Allegany County Sheriff Ricky Whitney reported at this week's County Public Safety Committee meeting on the success of his Pheasant Program. The program, which started in 2008, releases pheasants on public lands before hunting season. The popular game birds are raised through an inmate work program at the Allegany County Jail. The pheasants are provided by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. In 2008, 230 pheasants were released on three sites. In 2017, 1,502 were released on 10 sites. Sheriff Whitney reported that a recent survey confirmed that the program has a positive economic impact in Allegany County. Read the full article here.
Chautauqua County

Chautauqua County Sheriff Joe Gerace is rolling out a new fleet of sport utility vehicles that sport a sharp a new look. He is pictured above with the first of the Ford Interceptor Utility vehicles, which began its patrol Wednesday and will be used by the K-9 unit. Sheriff Gerace said around nine new SUVs will be put into service this year . The Chevrolet Impalas with the iconic red and white design will be replaced with an all sport utility fleet with black, gold and red coloring. “These vehicles offer so much more,”  Gerace said Wednesday, noting that deputies typically carry a lot of equipment while on patrol. “These vehicles become mobile offices. With what we have now, there is no space left in the car.” Read the full article here.
Allegany County

Allegany County Sheriff Ricky Whitney is pictured above with Logan Harder participating in Shop-WIth-a-Cop on its 25th Anniversary. Sheriff Whitney has participated every year since the program began, along with Andover Police Chief James Rumfelt a nd officers Bob Brooks and Was Mackney. The Allegany County Sheriff's Deputies raised a record $1,850 in support of the program with their Beards for Bucks fundraiser. Officers participating received a commemorative pin marking the 25th anniversa ry and each department received a plaque. Read the full article here.
Wayne County

Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts, along with his Civil, Corrections, and Court Security divisions, were recognized for their recent Sheriffs' Association Accreditations. Pictured above are those recognized for their efforts in securing accredtation: (front, l to r) Court Security Officer Dawn Pisciotti; Lt. Matt Ryndock; Deputy Paul Montemorano; Senior Account Clerk Cindy Tyler; Senior Account Clerk Julianna Lake; and Court Security Officer Margaret Fischette. (back l to r) Sheriff Barry Virts; Court Security Officer Paul Orlopp; Court Security Officer Chad Dekdebrun; Court Security Officer Jonathan Butterfield; Undersheriff Jeff Fosdick; Chief Deputy Steve Sklenar; Deputy Matt Carr; and Executive Director Peter Kehoe. Read the full article here.
Traffic Safety
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over - Holiday Season Campaign
Dec. 13 - Dec. 31, 2017

The NHTSA and the Governor's Traffic Safety Committee share the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign for the holiday season.

Campaign Materials are available on the  NHTSA Website .

We have pulled together a folder of social media messaging, images and gifs to help Sheriffs get the word out there. Click here to access the folder in Google Drive. Download the files you'd like to use.
Our Diamond Partners
 New York State Sheriffs' Association | 518-434-9091 | www.nysheriffs.org