Albany County Sheriff's Office Expands its SHIP |
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Repurposing, Renovating – Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple (center) shows Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino (left) and Poughkeepsie Mayor Yvonne Flowers renovated jail space that is now used as temporary housing for the homeless and recently incarcerated. Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati was also among the visitors, as they look into creating a similar program.
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The Albany County Sheriff’s Office is using an old space to create new beginnings . . . renovating former jail space into a shelter.
With declining inmate numbers, Sheriff Craig Apple is expanding the Albany County Sheriff’s Homeless Improvement Program, also known as SHIP. Former cells become personalized rooms. Cell bars are replaced with doors and residents are given keys to their own space.
Since the program started in April 2020, SHIP has housed more than 379 homeless individuals. Some of the residents have come from the county jail next door.
The program is supported through grants – including a $500,000 federal grant secured by Congressman Paul Tonko – community donations, and pre-existing infrastructure. It has been so successful that Sheriff Apple is looking to renovate another jail wing, which is no longer in use, to house female residents.
According to numbers from the Sheriff’s Office, nearly 60% of residents who have left SHIP have gone on to secure their own housing and find a job.
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C-PASS Scores Another Success |
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The Sheriffs’ Association Committee on Policing and Safeguarding Schools (C-PASS) sponsored its third annual conference in Saratoga Springs, with 149 registered School Resource Officers and School Resource Deputies from across the state attending the four-day program. The event featured nationally known speakers who are experienced in training school safety personnel.
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“This Committee is well equipped to tackle all aspects of school policing as it is made up of command staff, supervisors, and school resource officers currently working in New York State schools,” observed Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo. “We have been successful thus far in all of our endeavors by understanding the importance of collaboration, because in the end we are always better together.”
Following are some scenes from the Conference.
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Opening Day – From left to right, Saratoga County Sheriff’s Investigator and C-PASS Program Director Jon Becker, Saratoga Springs Police Department Chief Tyler McIntosh, Delaware County Sheriff and NYS Sheriffs' Association President Craig DuMond and Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo welcome participants to the conference in Saratoga Springs.
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Based on Front-Line Experience – Lt. Brian Murphy (pictured, left), formerly of the Oak Creek, WI, Police Department, leads an in-depth overview of the 2012 Sikh Temple shooting in his presentation, “Never Give Up.” The Lieutenant was shot 15 times while responding to stop the shooter, who killed six people at the Temple. Lt. Murphy was given a standing ovation by participants (below) for detailing the efforts and challenges encountered that day.
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Shop Talk – Attendees took advantage during conference breaks to meet with numerous vendors.
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In Attendance – Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino (pictured at right) and Undersheriff Daniel Izzo (left) joined participants for updates on school safety and security.
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“Preparedness, Prevention, Protection” – Dr. Matthew Miraglia (pictured), President and CEO of CLPS Consultants, spoke with attendees on how to utilize technology as part of their overall emergency preparedness planning and incident management capabilities.
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“Who’s in Command Here?” – John Cantarella (right) is the Northeast Regional Manager from the ALERRT Center at Texas State University. He reviewed the timeline of the 2022 Uvalde School shooting and addressed the command control failures that day.
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NSA's I.G.N.I.T.E. Program Finds a Home in Two Sheriff's Offices |
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The File 25 from November 3, 2023 ran a feature on how Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone launched the National Sheriffs’ Association I.G.N.I.T.E. program in his Office. It is a merit-based comprehensive curriculum that provides post-incarceration work opportunities and assistance to incarcerated individuals.
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The Ulster County Sheriff’s Office has since taken on the program as well. “We are the first state with two County Sheriffs in the I.G.N.I.T.E. program,” noted Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa.
The most recent issue of the IGNITE® Newsletter profiles Sheriffs Quattrone and Figueroa and their vision that led to having the I.G.N.I.T.E program as part of their operations. More information about the program is available at NSA IGNITE.
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Chautauqua County Sheriff Visits Southern Border |
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Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone (pictured) recently traveled to the U.S. - Mexico border in Arizona for a multi-day visit and briefing of the border situation. The Sheriff also took part in border-patrol operations in the area.
He was invited to “come down and see firsthand what they are encountering,” by Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, who serves as Chair of the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) Border Security Committee.
Sheriff Quattrone’s interest in the border was fueled by a program he attended at the NSA during its Winter Conference and hearing from a number of officials on a range of topics, including the southern border, which the Sheriff acknowledged has become a highly charged topic.
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Suffolk County Undersheriff Moves to County Police |
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Suffolk County Undersheriff Kevin Catalina (pictured) left the Sheriff’s Office last month to take a new role at the Suffolk County Police Department as Deputy Police Commissioner. Catalina has served as Undersheriff to Sheriff Errol Toulon since 2018.
“I have had the pleasure of working with Kevin Catalina for many years, beginning more than a decade ago . . .,” said Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. “I am confident that he will bring the same value to the Suffolk County Police Department in his new position, and I look forward to working with him in this capacity.”
Undersheriff Catalina oversaw the Sheriff’s policing division as well as other ancillary units. He was instrumental in expanding the Sheriff’s Office’s roles in numerous law enforcement task forces.
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Niagara County Sheriff's Office Civil Division is Reaccredited |
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The Niagara County Sheriff's Office Civil Division was recognized by the New York State Sheriffs' Association for successful reaccreditation at a recent meeting of the Niagara County Legislature. “Only one-third of Sheriff's Offices are accredited in the state,” noted Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti. “Great work by all involved for maintaining this honor!”
Pictured left to right are Undersheriff Mike Dunn, NYS Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Peter Kehoe, Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti, Lt. Patrick Rindfleisch, Deputy Jared Ander of the Civil Division and Deputy Chief Captain Robert Richards.
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Former Lewis County Undersheriff William E. Smith passed away in late January. He served in the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged, returning to Lewis County where he joined the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. He began in the Road Patrol then advanced over the years to the position of Undersheriff, to which he had been appointed by Sheriff Floyd Martin.
“Mr. Smith found great satisfaction from his career in Law Enforcement, looking upon that era as the best time of his life,” as noted in Undersheriff Smith’s Obituary.
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Sheriffs Together Within and Beyond New York State |
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Sheriffs gathered to show their support at two events, as seen below: |
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Special Support for a Special Cause – From left to right, Oneida County Sheriff Rob Maciol, Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley, Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck and Jefferson County Sheriff Peter Barnett attend the Opening Ceremonies of the 2024 Special Olympics Winter Games at the OnCenter in Syracuse.
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On the Job in D.C. – Seven Sheriffs and one retired Sheriff took time from their busy schedules to represent law enforcement in New York State at the National Sheriff’s Association Winter Conference in Washington. Seated in the first row from left to right: Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms, Delaware County Sheriff and NYS Sheriffs' Association President Craig DuMond, Albany County Sheriff and Immediate Past President Craig Apple. Standing in the back row are Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone, NYS Sheriffs' Association Executive Director Peter Kehoe, Retired Putnam County Sheriff Don Smith, Wayne County Sheriff Robert Milby, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa and Steuben County Sheriff Jim Allard.
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