Essex County Sheriff Honored with Service Award | | |
Essex County Sheriff David Reynolds (pictured above) was honored with the New York Association for Continuing and Community Education (NYACCE) Service Award at the Association’s 2025 conference in Albany. NYACCE notes this is the first time a law enforcement officer has been presented with the Service Award.
“The Sheriff has cultivated a mindset at the Essex County Jail that is professional and supportive,” noted Dana Poirier, Coordinator of the Champlain Valley Technical Education (CV-TEC) Corrections Education and Community Reentry Program. “The Sheriff manages to bridge the gap between the world of education and the reality of corrections. He gives us a seat at the table . . . and listens.”
Statistics point out the success of the five-year partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and CV-TEC. The three-year recidivism rate for inmates participating in the program is 21%, compared with the state average of 47%. Forty percent of the inmate population participate in CV-TEC.
"Nobody sees the programs that we're doing, the educational stuff that we're doing. They're only seeing when the bad guy gets released and then they're blaming the Sheriff's Office or blaming the judges . . . it's the system that's in place right now. So, we do the best we can with it," said Sheriff Reynolds. “My philosophy is to always say yes, if we can, no matter what the issue is."
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Capitol Beat — left to right, NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe, Executive Assistant to the Broome County Sheriff Jack Burkhard, Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood, Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol, Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting, Chautauqua County Sheriff and NYSSA President James Quattrone, Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms, Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa and Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple are ready to convene with legislators at the State Capitol.
From the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page: “It was great to be back up in Albany with the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, meeting with the Governor’s staff because there’s still time to advance some common-sense public safety initiatives before the Legislative Session ends. One initiative that isn’t often discussed is raising the earning cap for retired members of law enticement who serve as School Resource Officers. We must protect every child in our schools, and every school needs the best and brightest looking after the safety and well-being of our most treasured resource.”
| | Montgomery County Sheriff Makes Drug Vehicle a D.A.R.E. Car | | |
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has added a new car to its fleet: the D.A.R.E. Camaro (pictured).
The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro, originally seized from a local drug dealer, will serve as a community engagement tool for the Office’s D.A.R.E. program. The Camaro will be brought to school visits, youth events, parades and other outreach efforts throughout the year.
“Turning a vehicle once tied to crime into a symbol of education and prevention is the kind of full-circle message that really resonates,” said Montgomery County Sheriff Jeff Smith. “This car reminds our young people that choices matter — and that crime doesn’t pay.”
The D.A.R.E. logo is featured on the side of the vehicle, and the back is lined with the phrase, “Confiscated from a local drug dealer.”
| | Chemung County Sheriff's Office Creates a Business Registry | | |
Businesses in Chemung County now can proactively protect their places of work during a potential emergency, based on a recent announcement from the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office.
Business owners and managers are encouraged to register their contact information with the Chemung County Communications Office for emergency purposes. This will help the Communications Office quickly contact businesses in case of an emergency, such as a fire, break-in, or any other emergency.
| | New Prescription Discounts for Washington Co. Sheriff's Office | | |
Washington County Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy, with the County Board of Supervisors, announced that the Sheriff's Office is the first in the nation to use Sheriff Rx for access to a free prescription discount program for their employees and their families.
Although employees and their families may already have prescription drug coverage under their insurance plans, Sheriff Rx™ can often provide a lower cost on prescription drugs. Individuals who work for Washington County and its Sheriff's Office will be able to use the prescription discount card to save up to 80 percent on prescription drugs.
Support Our Sheriffs™ Executive Director Mark Lamb praised the Sheriff Rx program, "As we work to support Sheriff's Offices across the nation, it is crucial that every employee and their family have access to affordable medications and are empowered to take control of their health. I applaud Sheriff Jeff Murphy and Washington County Board of Supervisors Chair Robert Henke for being the first in the nation to implement Rx™."
Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy added, "I know our people would rather save money up front and put the savings in their pocket to use for other things needed by their families."
| | Oswego County Law Enforcement Center Now Open | | |
The Oswego County Regional Police Academy opened in early May on the Cayuga Community College's Fulton Campus with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton (pictured second from left).
The academy will help create new opportunities for students in the Cayuga Community College Criminal Justice A.S. program.
The facility includes a space for lectures, physical training and a virtual simulator that will be able to provide students with scenarios they may encounter as members of law enforcement.
Sheriff Hilton said the academy will help his Office and other law enforcement agencies from across the region and was glad that it's finally completed.
"I didn't think we'd ever get to this day," said Sheriff Hilton. "But everyone came together, and it's been a remarkable process. The result is fantastic."
| | Sheriff's Offices Receive State Funds to Curb Domestic Violence | | |
A number of Sheriff’s Offices across the state have received grants from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services to support STRIVE (Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence), with the goals of improving the public safety response to intimate partner abuse and domestic violence and addressing the needs of victims and survivors.
More than $20 million was distributed to law-enforcement agencies in 17 counties. The following Sheriff’s Offices received grants ranging from $10,000 to $317,000:
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• Broome County Sheriff’s Office
• Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office
• Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office
• Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office
• Erie County Sheriff’s Office
• Genesee County Sheriff’s Office
• Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
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• Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
• Niagara County Sheriff’s Office
• Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office
• Orange County Sheriff’s Office
• Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office
• Schenectady County Sheriff’s Office
• Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office
| | Four Sheriff's Offices Celebrate their FBI Academy Graduates | Law enforcement personnel from the Monroe, Suffolk, Ulster and Wayne County Sheriff’s Offices recently graduated from the FBI National Academy, 294th Session at the Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia: | Monroe County Sheriff’s Lieutenant and Academy graduate Andrew Soike (center) is pictured with Chief Deputy Michael Fowler (left) and Captain Shaun LeClair (right). | Suffolk County Deputy Undersheriff Keith Taylor (below) also joined the ranks of Session 294 graduates. |
| Ulster County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Collin Reynolds (pictured, above left) with Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa. | | |
Sheriff Figueroa also poses (above) with Wayne County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Matthew J. Hilkert (pictured, right).
Congratulations to all graduates on your significant achievements!
| | The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office was proud to host a meeting of regional Sheriffs “to talk about important issues around keeping our communities safe.” Some of the issues discussed included the PROTECT Act and enhancing public safety, the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute (NYSSI) Summer Camp and the NYSSI Wellness Center, with a round-table discussion on other issues on the minds of the attending sheriffs. | | Pictured above left to right are: Jefferson County Sheriff Peter Barnett, Steuben County Sheriff James Allard, Schuyler County Sheriff Kevin Rumsey, Wyoming County Sheriff, David Linder, Seneca County Sheriff Timothy Thompson, Onondaga County Sheriff Toby Shelley . . . | | . . . Yates County Sheriff Frank Ryan, Chemung County Sheriff William Schrom, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter, Wayne County Sheriff Robert Milby, Genesee County Sheriff Joseph Graff, Monroe County Undersheriff Korey Brown, and Livingston County Undersheriff Matt Bean. | | Orange County Sheriff's Deputies Go for the Doe | | |
Fawning Over It— While on patrol, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies Hannah Taylor (left), and Joseph Carey saw a tiny fawn stranded on a busy highway ramp. Of course, they stopped to check on it and found it was crying. They gently carried it to safety and spent extra time searching to see if its mother was nearby, but they had no luck.
To make sure the fawn was healthy and able to be released back into its habitat, the deputies, joined by the Town of Goshen Police, gave the baby its first car ride, bringing it to the Goshen Humane Society, where they will get the fawn to a rehabilitation center.
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| Steuben Co. Sheriff’s Office Civil, Jail Divisions are Reaccredited | | From the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page: “The Steuben County Sheriff's Office Civil and Jail Divisions were officially reaccredited by the New York State Sheriffs' Association! Announcements and presentations were made at the recent Steuben County Legislature Meeting. The Jail Division has held accreditation since 2004, and the Civil Division since 2008 — a testament to our long-standing commitment to excellence, professionalism, and public service. Thank you to our dedicated team for upholding the highest standards year after year!” | | |
In the top photo (l – r) are Steuben County Sheriff James Allard, Correction Officer Jason Smith, Captain Justin Mills, Major David Sutton – representing the Office's Jail Division – and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe.
In the bottom photo, Sheriff Allard (far left) and Mr. Kehoe (far right) flank Sergeant Matt Sorge and Clerk Jessica Yarka from the Civil Division.
| | Livingston County SO Also Earns Civil and Jail Reaccreditations | |
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office was presented with two plaques earlier this month during the County Board of Supervisors’ meeting to recognize the reaccreditation of the Office’s Civil and Jail Divisions.
The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office is one of 36 agencies meeting corrections standards, and one of 31 agencies meeting civil accreditation standards. It is also one of eight counties that have full accreditation standards across all divisions of the Sheriff’s Office.
| Kudos to the Civil Division – (above l to r): Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, Chief Deputy Jason Yasso, Corporal Jamye Babocsi, Principal Clerk Dawn Hamsher, Undersheriff Matt Bean and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe. | And kudos to the Jail Division — (above l - r): Sheriff Dougherty, Chief Deputy Aaron Galvin, Sergeant Brenda Clark, Sergeant Josh Daly, Captain Jeremy Slocum, Undersheriff Matt Bean and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe. | Saratoga County Sheriff's Office Jail Division is Reaccredited | The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office was presented with a plaque for the recent reaccreditation of the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Division. Pictured left to right are NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe and Counsel Tom Mitchell, Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo, recently retired Jail Administrator Colonel Rich Emery, Undersheriff Jeff Brown and recently appointed Jail Administrator Captain Matt Martingano. “Our correctional facility is a well-run operation,” noted a post on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, “and it is due to the hard work of all the correctional staff. Thank you!” | | |
The Undersheriffs Training Conference will be held in Saratoga Springs, NY. Undersheriffs in many Counties are primarily responsible for administrative matters in the Sheriff’s Office. This Conference provides training in such areas as labor management, employee discipline, and management of employee benefits (such as disability payments, family, health and military leave). Training also focuses on managing the major divisions of the Sheriff’s Office — Law Enforcement, County Jail, Civil Division and Court Security.
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Over four action-packed days, attendees can immerse themselves in expertly curated seminars and educational sessions. Topics include cutting-edge advancements in recruitment and retention, jail operations, officer wellness, and emerging law enforcement technologies, among many others. Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to learn, network, and elevate your impact in the field.
As the largest event of its kind, this Conference features a dynamic trade show showcasing the latest products and equipment designed to support every aspect of law enforcement, from patrol operations and jail management to prisoner transport and courtroom security.
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This year’s Conference is at the Fort William Henry Hotel, in Lake George, NY, hosted by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office. Programs address current issues impacting Law Enforcement, Corrections, Court Security, and Civil Matters with emphasis on analysis of new laws passed in the previous legislative session. Sheriffs also meet informally with one another and the presenters in attendance to discuss individual county issues.
| | Scenes from the Civil Supervisors Training Conference | | The 2025 Civil Supervisors Training Conference was held in in Saratoga Spring last month, covering legislative updates, FOIL Overview and Civil Scenarios, as well as presentations by: | | Christie Johnston (above) from the New York State Comptroller’s Office of Unclaimed Funds, who advised attendees on how to report abandoned funds. | | Brian Curtis (above) is from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office. He addressed Navigating the Pistol Permit Process Post-CCIA. | | Madison County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Krystyna Feola (above right) presented an eviction case study, while Reno DeDomenico (below), VP at Lollypop Farm - Humane Society of Greater Rochester, spoke to supervisors about Animal Removals in Eviction Enforcement. | | |
And the always popular Civil Scenarios segment was led by Captain Mike Grossi (pictured, right) of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, where situations involving the Civil Division are discussed by groups (below) and their answers presented to all attendees.
Captain Grossi is retiring from public service. Is this his last Civil Scenarios presentation? Stay tuned . . .
| | | Broome County Bounty Kicks Off Correctional Facility Garden | | |
From the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page: “Our first small harvest of spinach and lettuce from the Correctional Facility Garden is ready to harvest and deliver to our facility kitchen. Our kale is coming along as well.
“We're also prepping a new addition to the garden this year: pumpkins!
| | “As we enter our third year of this ever-expanding program, and as our harvests grow, we hope to incorporate more and more of these home-grown vegetables and herbs into meals at the Correctional Facility.” | | | | |
