Law enforcement agencies throughout the state are recognizing Autism Awareness Month by promoting the Blue Envelope program, announced last year. Sheriff’s Offices recommend that drivers with autism obtain a Blue Envelope, in which they can keep their license, registration, insurance card or other relevant documents normally requested during a traffic stop, so an officer is immediately alerted to the driver’s autism and can adjust actions and reactions to fit that situation.

Other Offices, including the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, also offer community safety programs, such as Project Lifesaver (shown below), which helps locate individuals with Autism, Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s who are at risk of wandering.

And the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office this month held training programs for their personnel to be better equipped during interactions with people on the autism spectrum.

“I've seen a number of scenarios online or different cases where good-intentioned officers are doing what appears to be a good job based on the training they have, but they just need a little bit more training in this area so that they can bring the right response,” said Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck.

Click here for a news story about the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office work in this area.

Safety in Numbers — Above from left are Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino, Greene County Undersheriff Tracey Quinn, Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault, Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown and Montgomery County Sheriff Jeff Smith. They were part of a panel discussion on how public safety and public health agencies can reduce overdose deaths and improve re-entry outcomes.

Earlier this year, St. Lawrence County Sheriff Rick Engle (pictured) was a guest on an episode of Sheriff on the Border with Mark Lamb of the Federation for American Immigration Reform. They discussed the realities of America’s northern border.

From unsecured border stretches marked by little more than flowerpots and tall grass, to New York policies that hinder law enforcement efforts, Sheriff Engle explains how various challenges make it harder to protect his community.

Jacqueline Salvatore (pictured), the first woman of color to be elected Sheriff in New York State, was a guest on Power & Politics, a local TV program that included a wide-ranging interview.

Sheriff Salvatore, a Democrat who had been Columbia County Undersheriff since 2022, was elected in November 2025. The conversation included her path to becoming Sheriff, breaking the barrier to become the first woman of color elected Sheriff, cooperating (or not cooperating) with federal immigration enforcement, the culture of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, responding the mental health calls, efforts to combat scams against seniors, and treatment options for substance use disorders.

Click here to see the interview.

Sheriff Thunder — Upstate Sheriffs showed off their personalized Adirondack Thunder hockey team jerseys during the annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Night in Glens Falls. Pictured above from left are Warren County Sheriff Jim LaFarr, Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy, Saratoga County Sheriff Jeff Brown, and Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault.

While the home team did not come out on top, it was a sellout night that showed continued support by the public for those in the law enforcement profession.

Last month, Steuben County Sheriff James Allard (pictured above) attended a symposium hosted by the National Institute of Corrections on wellness, addressing the stresses and challenges faced by Sheriffs nationwide. The symposium focused on the unique challenges Sheriffs face throughout the different stages of their careers.

Sheriff Allard was one of only nine Sheriffs selected nationwide to participate, alongside retired Sheriffs as well as Executive Directors from state and national associations. The symposium provided a valuable opportunity to share experiences, exchange ideas (see photo at right), and help shape the future of support for Sheriffs across the country. The insights gained will strengthen ongoing efforts to better serve the law enforcement community.

In March Sheriff Juan Figueroa (pictured above second from right), Undersheriff James Mullen (far left) and members of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office held an I.G.N.I.T.E. (Individual Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education) graduation ceremony (above) to recognize nine incarcerated individuals who successfully completed programs focused on personal growth, education, and re-entry preparation.

The event brought together Sheriff’s Office leadership, program staff, and community partners to honor the graduates. The ceremony also highlighted the critical role of I.G.N.I.T.E. Correction Officers, whose leadership and mentorship provide a strong foundation for participants’ success.

The Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office also supports I.G.N.I.T.E. programs and has a robust expansion plan, targeting a late spring launch for its Industrial Maintenance Technician Program. It is also working to reestablish its Fatherhood Program, which helps form positive role models and gives fathers assistance with other various life skills, such as handling finances and finding a job. New summer curriculum additions include a 40- hour Introduction to Plumbing Skills course in July and a series of "pop-up" life skills classes in August covering banking and communication.

For more information, click here to view I.G.N.I.T.E Insight, the most recent newsletter from the National Sheriffs’ Association, which sponsors the I.G.N.I.T.E. program.

The First —Pictured from left, Hamilton County Undersheriff Ronald W. Johnston, Deputy Desiree Ross, and Sheriff Karl G. Abrams. Photo courtesy of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.


The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce the hiring of the Office’s first female road patrol Deputy.

Deputy Sheriff Desiree Ross graduated on February 26 from the Mohawk Valley Police Academy in Utica, having successfully completed over one thousand hours of training and having passed multiple written and practical testing sessions.

Hamilton County Sheriff Karl Abrams praised Deputy Ross as a valuable asset to the agency prior to her transfer, after many years with the Corrections Division. Undersheriff Ronald Johnston said Deputy Ross will be assigned to the Criminal / Road Patrol Division.

To Remember Them, Always — Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley (above left) and Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin (right) unveil the statue honoring Sheriff’s Deputy Michael Hoosock and Police Officer Michael Jensen.


Hundreds of people gathered to commemorate the placing of a new monument to two fallen police officers: Onondaga County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Michael Hoosock and Syracuse police officer Michael Jensen. The ceremony took place on the second anniversary of their deaths on April 14, 2024, when a gunman shot and killed the two officers in an ambush.

Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley and Syracuse Police Chief Mark Rusin pulled the strings to remove the monument’s covering. Chief Rusin said the monument represents who Hoosock and Jensen were, and the ultimate sacrifice they made. Sheriff Shelley said it was a reminder to “never forget our two Mikes.”

The monument features a bronze statue of a police officer on a bended knee, holding a folded American flag. A photo of Hoosock is on the left side of the monument’s granite base. Below the base is a paver stone with a message from his wife Caitlin and three children: “We love you & miss you, daddy!” Four hearts appeared beneath the text, followed by: “Love, Nicole, Gabriel, Samuel and Cait.”

Wayne County Sheriff Robert Milby (above) recently met with the Oasis Senior Group to explain NYSSA’s “Yellow Dot” program, which is designed to help first responders provide life-saving medical attention during that first “golden hour” after a crash or other emergency.

A Yellow Dot is placed in the driver’s side rear view window of your vehicle and will alert first responders that vital medical information is stored in the glove compartment.

Yellow Dot information was also available at the State Comptroller’s Health and Information Fair in Albany. NYSSA Program Manager James Bowers (pictured at right) staffed the booth at that event.

A Worthy Proclamation — New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli (left in photo) presented Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa with a proclamation at this year's SOMOS Conference in Albany, which celebrated the organization's 40th anniversary of lifting up the Latino community.

SOMOS was founded in 1987 by members and allies of the New York State Assembly and Senate Puerto Rican / Hispanic Task Force, with the mission "to unite the Latino community and raise awareness by advocating and elevating social consciousness on public policy."

Sheriff Figueroa was one of four people honored for their support of the organization’s mission.

On Display — Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta (above left) and Undersheriff Wilfredo Garcia show off the accreditation certificate from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). The Sheriff's Office noted this was the fourth consecutive time it has received this accreditation.

"Receiving four consecutive CALEA accreditations is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of the members of my office," said Sheriff Arteta. "We voluntarily meet an established set of professional standards, which represents my agency's ongoing commitment to professional excellence, transparency, and accountability in serving Orange County's residents."

Not One, but Two — Allegany County Sheriff Scott A. Cicirello (pictured right) accepted plaques from NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe, recognizing the Accreditation of the Allegany County Sheriff's Office E‑911 Dispatch Center, and its Reaccreditation of the Sheriff's Office Corrections Division during a meeting of the Allegany County Board of Legislators.

“These acknowledgments collectively highlight the dedication and professionalism of the men and women who protect and serve our community every day, whether answering the first call for help, working within our correctional facilities, or ensuring emergency services operate at the highest level,” noted the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office in a statement.

On Call — Schuyler County Sheriff Kevin Rumsey (above left) receives a plaque from NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe recognizing the accreditation of the Office’s Public Safety Answering Point – 911. The accreditation is in effect through April 2031.

This is the first accreditation earned by the Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff Rumsey’s leadership. He is committed to achieving accreditations in the other divisions overseen by the Sheriff’s Office.

Members of NYSSA’s Jail Accreditation Standards Committee recently met at the Broome County Sheriff's Office to review and update the jail accreditation manual, which is used by Sheriff’s Offices in their pursuit of attaining / maintaining accreditation for their Jail and Corrections Divisions. Pictured above in the front row are Alice Haskins (ret., Ontario) and Craig Plaisted (Allegany) and in the back row are Chris Lian (ret. from Steuben, now with Black Creek), Chion Scott (Dutchess), Kathryn Peters (counsel at Prime Care), James Barrett (ret. Schenectady and now with Prime Care), Keith Price (Rockland), and Thomas Mitchell, NYSSA. Thanks for all your hard work!

NYSSA Civil Supervisors Training Conference | May 11 – 13

The Civil Supervisors’ Training Conference is scheduled for May 11 through May 13 at Saratoga Springs Embassy Suites.

Each year, civil supervisors from around the state attend the Civil Supervisors’ Training Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. Civil supervisors are responsible for the handling, service and accounting of all process and monies received by the Civil Division. Sheriffs in less populated counties receive and account for hundreds of thousands of dollars each year; larger counties are responsible for millions of dollars annually. Our training conferences focus on best practices for the service of process and handling of these funds for the county. We have presentations on such issues as new technology, case law and statute updates, handling and preserving public records, and working with county and state accounting agencies to make sure that all records are accurately maintained. Click the link above to register.

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!

News on Animal Partners in Law Enforcement

Jefferson County K-9 Retires

Here is a touching video that chronicles the retirement of Jefferson County K-9 Abel, whose service to the Sheriff’s Office was recounted by the dispatcher on Abel’s final day. Abel joined the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit in March 2017. His handler — featured in the clip — is Deputy Sheriff Jeffrey M. Froelich. Abel is named after Jefferson County's first Sheriff, Dr. Abel Sherman. Enjoy retirement, K-9 Abel.

Erie County Mounted Steed Passes

Erie County honors a valued member of its team and extends condolences to Reserve Deputy Mark Warner (pictured) on the loss of his mounted partner, seven-year-old Maximus. Max faithfully represented the Erie County Sheriff’s Office at Bills games, parades, and community events as part of the Mounted Reserve Unit. His service and presence will not be forgotten.

Our Double Diamond Partners