Leadership Summit Examines Critical Issues, Provides Expert Guidance |
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One hundred Law-Enforcement Leaders from Sheriffs’ Offices and Police Departments across the State convened in Lake George last week to discuss some of the many challenges facing their agencies. |
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Joint Training and Information Event Hosted by NYS Sheriffs' Association and NYS Chiefs of Police |
No doubt, everyone agrees that 2020 will go down as one of the most challenging for law-enforcement groups, with issues such as bail reform, a global pandemic and a wave of anti-police sentiment that escalated into violence across the nation.
With many of their normal opportunities for sharing information and ideas cut off for months by COVID restrictions, Sheriffs and Chiefs recognized the need to get together in a joint Summit as soon as health safety rules permitted. On October 28 and 29, seventy Chiefs of Police and Police Commissioners joined with thirty Sheriffs and Undersheriffs at the Fort William Henry Hotel in Lake George, under strict social distancing protocols, to gain information and share ideas on some of the important issues in New York policing today.
Our president, Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy, and the president of the NYS Association of Chiefs of Police, Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan, welcomed the attendees to this first-ever joint training Summit. Among the presenters were Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike who spoke on recent activities at the MPTC, which he chairs, and other training issues. Westchester County Sheriff/Commissioner Tom Gleason spoke on Westchester’s approach to complying with the Governor’s Order on Re-Imagining Policing in New York, and offered some valuable suggestions on compliance do’s and don’ts. Axon, the major conference sponsor, represented at the event by retired Niagara County Sheriff Jim Voutour, gave a presentation on the latest technology and other body-cam issues.
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COVID Found to Be the Biggest Cause of Police Deaths in 2020 |
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Before the pandemic, police investigations were often discussed at large group meetings, officers typically rode with a partner, and training classes were always in person. Today, meetings are mostly virtual, indoor roll calls are suspended, police and sheriffs’ deputies wear masks and other PPE on duty and often ride solo in patrol cars to maintain physical distance.
As essential workers, law-enforcement officers have been on duty since the pandemic started. A recent poll by the National Police Foundation shows health and safety is the biggest concern of law-enforcement officers who have been on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic since it began early this year.
That concern is understandable. More than 100 law-enforcement officers — Sheriffs’ Deputies, Correction Officers and Police Officers — have died from COVID-19 contracted on the job this year, which is more than those who have died from gun violence, car accidents, heart attacks, or other causes, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. Officer Down reported to The Washington Post that it’s verifying an additional 150 officer deaths due to COVID-19, which it presumes to have been contracted in the line of duty.
More than 6,000 officers, four percent of law-enforcement personnel nationwide, report being exposed to COVID-19; one-third have been unable to return to work. The three states with the largest coronavirus exposure rates for law enforcement are California, New York, and Texas. In New York City alone, more than 4,000 officers tested positive and 27 members of the department had already died from the disease by the end of April.
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Coordinated Efforts Halt Thefts Across Six Counties |
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Sheriff Baxter addresses the media at a press conference to announce the breakup of a major burglary ring in Monroe and five neighboring counties. He is joined by (from the left) Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts, Ontario County Sheriff Kevin Henderson, Livingston County Sheriff Tom Dougherty, Monroe County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Michael Fowler, Monroe County Sheriff’s Sgt. Andrew Soike, Monroe County Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Mahoney and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe. |
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More than 30 burglaries and thefts spread across six counties in the greater Rochester area ended with three suspects under arrest.
At a joint press conference with neighboring Sheriffs, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said coordinated efforts with law-enforcement agencies in Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Wayne and Wyoming counties started in August when investigators from those counties began to notice patterns, and share information, in connection with burglaries and thefts of thousands of dollars-worth of cigarettes from closed gas stations. Alert Deputies subsequently noticed a suspicious vehicle parked near a closed gas station. When they heard glass break and a short time later the suspicious vehicle sped off, the Deputies knew they had the burglars in sight. The vehicle’s occupants were soon apprehended and charges were placed in Monroe County immediately, and the Sheriffs and District Attorneys in the other five counties also began preparing charges.
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Not All Burglars Can Swim |
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Monroe County Deputy Sheriff Nicholas Mahoney speaks to the press about his rescue from the Erie Canal of one of the suspects in a multi-county burglary ring. From the left, Sheriff Todd Baxter, Undersheriff Korey Brown, Sheriff Barry Virts, Sheriff Kevin Henderson, Sheriff Tom Dougherty, Deputy Mahoney, Chief Deputy Michael Fowler and Sgt. Andrew Soike. |
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Monroe County Sheriff Deputy Nicholas Mahoney was one of the Deputies in pursuit of the three multi-county gas station burglars. The fleeing vehicle was eventually stopped at a point near the Erie Canal. One of the three suspects jumped out of the car and Deputy Mahoney chased him through the dark to the edge of the canal. Faced with imminent apprehension by the powerfully built Deputy, the suspect opted for a swim in the canal. Unfortunately, however, he didn’t know how to swim and began to founder halfway across the canal. Without hesitation Deputy Mahoney shed his weapon and jumped into the cold, dark water to rescue him, and dragged him to shore where the suspect was taken into custody.
“Deputy Mahoney selflessly jumped into the canal and saved one of the suspects while putting his own personal safety at risk," Baxter said.
Mahoney said he didn't have to think twice about entering the Erie Canal, after noting the suspect had difficulty swimming. "This was a first for me. I’m just glad it worked out like it did . . . a resolution where no one ended up being dead," said Mahoney.
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Sheriffs Participate in Law-Enforcement Roundtable |
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Community convergence – Police executives and local leaders discuss ways to improve relationships and communications at the law-enforcement roundtable in Elmira, NY. |
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Chemung County Sheriff Bill Schrom, Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Yessman and Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard were among those participating in a recent law-enforcement roundtable sponsored by Congressman Tom Reed, providing police agencies and local leaders from across the region with the opportunity to speak about the current safety and policing challenges facing their communities. The group discussed common-ground reforms and opportunities to promote positive change. Besides the Sheriffs, attendees included police officers from Elmira, Corning and Horseheads, as well as leaders from the local NAACP chapter and state legislature representatives.
Congressman Reed pointed out, “As co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, we have worked extensively on this issue to identify common-ground solutions on the issue of positive police reform. Instead of demonizing the police or rejecting important voices in the community, we found when you listen to folks on the ground, you can build bipartisan consensus around the importance of increasing accountability and transparency, all while empowering law enforcement to do their jobs.”
"It's important to collectively discuss issues and potential solutions with other law-enforcement executives, lawmakers and members of the public,” said Schuyler County Sheriff William Yessman.
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Working Together – Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, Undersheriff Korey Brown, Commander Jason McNair and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe meet with Rev. Lewis Stewart and other Rochester area ministers and members of the United Christian Leadership Ministry.
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When the Sheriffs' Association announced its 10 Legislative Proposals for Protection of the Police and the Public, it raised alarm signals for Reverend Lewis Stewart and members of the United Christian Leadership Ministry (UCLM). Reverend Stewart, president of UCLM, and other members of the ministry had been working to quiet tensions during ongoing civil unrest in Rochester. They felt that some of the proposals, especially those raising several misdemeanor crimes to felony level, if enacted into law, would have a disproportionate negative impact on people of color. Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter asked NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe to join him in discussing with UCLM the proposals and the reasoning behind them. A meeting was held by Zoom in September, at which it was determined that a second, in-person meeting could be fruitful.
The second meeting was held in October, at which concerns on both sides were aired in a respectful conversation. Executive Director Kehoe explained that the proposals were not designed to be punitive on anyone, but to emphasize the importance of compliance with lawful orders of a police officer, to prevent escalation, for the protection of the officer and the citizen. Rev. Stewart suggested that, to prevent future misunderstandings, that NYSSA form some kind of community advisory group to provide the Association with guidance on any future proposals which might raise concerns for the public – especially for minority communities. Sheriff Baxter and Executive Director Kehoe agreed to bring the recommendation to the Association’s Executive Committee and the full membership for consideration.
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Essex County Sheriff Heads to Jail |
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It’s true: Essex County Sheriff David Reynolds pledged to spend 24 hours in the Essex County Jail if he received $2,500 in donations to the American Cancer Society’s "Real Men Wear Pink of Northern New York" campaign.
The cause – raising money and awareness to help combat breast cancer – is important to the Sheriff, because his mother and mother-in-law both died from breast cancer.
“I have a wife and two daughters, so they are at increased risk,” he said. “My daughters lost both their grandmothers to this disease. Any little thing I can do to help, I will.”
The money raised will be used by The American Cancer Society to fund research and its network of Hope Lodges.
Sheriff Reynolds is one of 22 men who participated in the October 2020 campaign, held annually by the Cancer Society. At the close of October, the Sheriff well exceeded his goal, with donations totaling $4,871.00, the highest amount raised among all the participants.
So, Sheriff Reynolds is off to the hoosegow. But for him, spending time in jail is a small price to pay. “It is my wish that with enough funding and research, breast cancer will be abolished during our lifetime, so that our family members and friends will no longer suffer from this disease.”
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A New Partnership Results in a New Training Program |
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The Herkimer County Sheriff’s Office and Herkimer County Community College (HCCC) have partnered to offer a new Pre-Employment Corrections Basic Training certificate program. The training is the first part of a two-phase program that allows future and current correction officers to obtain a certificate of completion for a course equivalent to the Basic Course for Correction Officers.
HCCC is the only college in the region to currently offer this program. Open to both civilians and sworn correction officers, the first class will run December 28, 2020 through July 17, 2021.
“This will be a tremendous positive for the Herkimer County Sheriff’s Office,” Herkimer County Sheriff Scott Scherer (pictured) said. “Without the training, we can only use new COs in limited situations within our facility. The program at Herkimer College will allow us to hire pre-trained employees and have them fully operational after a brief phase-II portion.”
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Billboard Highlights Road-safety Concerns |
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Sign says – This billboard in Yates County makes clear the need to watch for all types of vehicles using roadways. |
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In the wake of recent road accidents involving automobiles and slow-moving vehicles, Yates County Sheriff Ronald Spike designed a billboard to promote safe and careful driving while sharing the road with other vehicles, such as farming equipment, horse and buggies and bicycles.
Yates County has a large Amish population, and has experienced several serious collisions between automobiles and horse-drawn buggies. “Folks appreciate the message and the concern,” noted Sheriff Spike, “particularly during this harvest season.”
The billboard was funded by the Yates County Sheriff’s Office. An image of the billboard will be used by the National Center for Rural Road Safety on its social media page as a way to raise awareness about sharing the road with slow-moving vehicles.
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Sheriffs + Halloween = A Safe Holiday |
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From the Hudson River Valley to Western New York, Sheriffs' Deputies were out in force last weekend to preserve the spirit and tradition of Halloween, while taking measures to protect the health and safety of everyone. A statewide DWI crackdown was underway from October 30 to November 1. |
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Along with many other county Sheriff's Offices, Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard issued practical advice and guidelines for Trick and Treaters to follow.
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Putnam County Sheriff Robert Langley, Jr. (above right), participated in a local "Trunk or Treat" event. The Sheriff was joined by the Putman County Sheriff's Office Cadets in distributing candy to community residents, along with Deputies Matt Kraisky and Anthony Vigna who managed the traffic, for safety. |
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New York State Sheriffs' Association | 518-434-9091 | www.nysheriffs.org |
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