Oswego County Receives Funds for Regional Police Academy |
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A Great Start — (l – r) Oswego County Legislator Linda Lockwood, Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton; Cayuga Community College President Dr. Brian Durant and County Legislature Vice Chair Marc Greco at the presentation of funds to create a law enforcement academy (photo contributed by Oswego County).
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In part to address law enforcement recruitment challenges and enhance regional public safety services, the Oswego County Legislature recently awarded $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to Cayuga Community College for development of the Oswego County Regional Police Academy, a dedicated facility to train preemployment and in-service law enforcement personnel.
The Academy will provide students with improved access to law enforcement careers and develop a pool of qualified candidates each year for local agencies. The facility will be located at Cayuga’s Fulton campus.
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Saratoga County Undersheriff Retires |
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Richard Castle (pictured), Saratoga County Undersheriff, retires this month after a nearly 35-year career with the Sheriff’s Office. His walkout ceremony is April 21.
Castle started at the Sheriff’s Office in 1989 as a Dispatcher after previously working as a Dispatcher for the Waterford Police Department. He became Road Patrol Officer in 1991 and was promoted to Sergeant and Lieutenant in 2008 and 2014, respectively, while working under then-Sheriff James Bowen. He took on the role of Undersheriff in 2016. Before that, he served as Chief Deputy, overseeing the county’s Road Patrol and Communications Center.
“He’s going to be missed. He’s done a lot for me in my tenure . . . as my Undersheriff,” said Sheriff Zurlo. “He is well-respected among his peers, whether it’s in my department or other law enforcement or Sheriff’s Offices . . . across the state.”
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Fulton County Sheriff Appears on National Broadcasts |
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Richard Giardino, Sheriff of Fulton County, recently made several appearances on local and national media. |
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Live, From New York — Above, a screen grab during Sheriff Richard Giardino’s guest appearance on Fox News
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Additionally, Sheriff Giardino was seen and heard on local Albany-area television and radio programs speaking on these and other topics. Thank you for getting the word out, Sheriff.
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Washington County Sheriff Is Also in the National Spotlight |
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In Response — Sheriff Jeff Murphy (at right in screen grab) during an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett.
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Washington County Sheriff / Past NYSSA President Jeff Murphy and his Office are handling a tragic murder case that has garnered national media attention. The tragedy is closer to the law enforcement community as the victim was the daughter of a Washington County Corrections Officer.
Below were some of Sheriff Murphy's television interviews:
News Nation (April 18)
Fox News (April 19)
CNN with Jake Tapper (April 19)
The New York State Sheriffs’ Association extends its sincerest sympathies to the victim’s family and friends.
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Madison County Sheriff Comments on Swatting Calls |
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Also, Sheriff's Office New Threat Response Council Already in Action |
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The response from Madison County Sheriff Todd Hood (pictured) on the recent spate of swatting calls to school districts throughout New York State was picked up by Government Technology, a media group that covers IT’s role in state and local governments. It was also noticed by the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) and profiled in the April 13 Weekly Update e-newsletter. Sheriff Hood was recently appointed Chair of the NSA’s School Safety and Security Committee.
And in Madison County, Sheriff Hood announced the recent creation of the Madison Threat Advisory Council (MTAC), with help from a state grant. The MTAC was patterned after the Rochester Threat Advisory Council in which the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office participates. The MTAC got right to work, crossing county lines to help Onondaga County stop a person who threatened a mass shooting at a local store.
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Ulster County Sheriff Presents at National Drug Summit |
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Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa (pictured) was invited to attend and present at the 2023 Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Atlanta, GA.
The Sheriff was part of a panel discussion on “Reducing Overdoses and Increasing Access to Treatment in Rural Underserved Communities: Lessons from Connecticut and New York.”
At the Summit, the Sheriff joined other notable presenters such as Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director of the While House Office of National Drug Policy, who announced during the Summit that his Office has officially designated fentanyl adulterated with xylazine as an emerging threat to the United States. Anne Milgram, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, also advised participants about the DEA’s recent strategies based on emerging trends.
Sheriff Figueroa travels to Washington, D.C. next month to address the issues further with the DEA.
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A Milestone for the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office |
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“Herstory” in the Making — From the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page: For the first time in our 224 year history, the primary Deputies assigned to a Road Patrol shift were all female.
Congratulations to Deputies Wojcikowski, Lawson, and Loveless (pictured above) for making history in Cayuga County. We appreciate all you do to make the community a safer and better place to live.
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Columbia County Sheriff's Office Clothes Those in Need |
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Fiber Optics — The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office recently received from a local Wal-Mart eight pallets of clothing and shoes – each stacked six feet high – with the agreement that the Sheriff’s Office would donate them to agencies and families in need.
The Office began by providing items to several families that lost their homes and belongings in fires, and then to Public Health Nurse's offices, County department heads, churches, re-entry organizations and other community-based programs.
The Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Hudson Elks Lodge, which provided the space and volunteers to assist with this herculean effort. Above, Columbia County Sheriff Donald Krapf (left) poses with Larry Heath, Exalted Ruler of the Hudson Elks Lodge #787.
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James Taber, Former Cayuga County Undersheriff |
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James A. Taber, a law enforcement professional with 50 years of service, passed away earlier this month.
He enlisted in the New York State Police in 1965 and was promoted to Investigator in 1974. During his 28-year stint, Jim was assigned to several posts throughout the State. He retired in 1993, and was successfully elected to the Cayuga County Legislature.
After serving two terms in the Legislature, Jim furthered his public service career with the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, working there for 22 years, as Undersheriff from 1997 to 2002, followed by Acting Sheriff in 2002 and then Corrections Facility Administrator from 2003 to 2005 and again from 2007 to 2019.
He served under Sheriffs Peter Pinckney, James Moochler, Robert Outhouse and David Gould.
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Warren County Emergency Communications Center Is Reaccredited |
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Keeping those Lines of Communication Open — The Warren County Emergency Communications Center recently completed a week-long inspection and was successfully reaccredited by the New York State Sheriffs’ Association.
Communications Supervisor Derrick Helms and Communications Officer Justin Priest were instrumental in making sure the reaccreditation process went smoothly and successfully.
Pictured in the photo (l – r) are Warren County Sheriff Jim LaFarr; Assessor and Communications Supervisor Dustin Gittens; Assessor and Chief Communications Officer Stephen DeChick; and, from the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, Derrick Helms, Justin Priest, and Lieutenant Rob Smith.
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The New York State Sheriffs' Association has two upcoming training conferences. Click the links below for program, lodging and registration information. |
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Each June, civil supervisors from around the state attend the Civil Supervisors’ Training Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. This conference will feature presentations on new technology, case law and statute updates, handling and preserving public records, and working with county and state accounting agencies to make sure all records are accurately maintained. |
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Also every June, Undersheriffs are encouraged to attend the Undersheriffs’ Training Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY, which will provide training in labor management, employee discipline, and management of employee benefits, which impact all Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office. Sessions will include presentations from state and federal agency representatives who provide or administer programs in these areas. |
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Remembrance of Days Past — Last month, K-9 Pitt of the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office enjoyed one of the final days of a less-than-snowy winter season.
Don't worry, Pitt, only eight months to go until winter returns!
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