Sheriffs: Time to Reform the Bail and Discovery Reform Law |
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Together to Enact Change – (l - r) Herkimer County Sheriff Scott Scherer, Montgomery County Legislature Chair Michael J. Pepe, Montgomery County Sheriff Jeffrey Smith, Montgomery County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort, New York State Senator Jim Tedisco (at podium), Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo and Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino call for a change to New York’s bail law in light of increased crime throughout the state.
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Sheriffs and government leaders recently held a press conference to urge changes to the state’s bail and discovery reform law.
State Senator Jim Tedisco is sponsoring legislation to allow judges and courts to make a risk assessment in determining bail, based on a defendant’s prior felony conviction(s), a failure to make a court appearance, or a subsequent arrest while awaiting a preliminary hearing or trial.
“The bail law as written takes the handcuffs off the accused and places them on the police and prosecutors, which has led to not only an increase in crimes being committed, but more of our citizens being victimized,” said Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino. “I believe Senator Tedisco’s bill to restore judicial discretion makes imminent sense.”
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Congressman Supports Legislation Supporting Sheriffs |
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Congressman Antonio Delgado met with members of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association to discuss local law enforcement needs, followed by a press conference at Association headquarters to note the Congressman's bipartisan bill, the Invest in Law Enforcement Act. The legislation creates a new federal grant program for local law enforcement in New York and across the country. Specifically, it would make targeted investments for law enforcement in small towns and rural areas to pursue de-escalation training and mental health support, purchase body cameras, and address recruitment and retention.
Among those attending the meeting and conference (pictured above, l - r) were Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple, Montgomery County Sheriff Jeff Smith, Congressman Delgado (at podium) Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore and Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol.
Also attending the discussion held with the Congressman before the press conference were Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff and Undersheriff Eric Chaboty, Broome County Sheriff David Harder, Greene County Sheriff Pete Kusminsky, and Schoharie County Sheriff Ron Stevens.
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Suffolk County Sheriff's Office Sends Body Armor to Ukraine |
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The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office has donated nearly 450 pieces of bulletproof body armor to Ukraine.
The four pallets of armor were donated along with medical supplies, sleeping bags and other essentials. The items were collected during the Long Island Ukraine Emergency Drive.
"We stand with the people of Ukraine and we want to offer our help any way that we can and I'm proud to announce that the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is able to step up and provide materials that can help keep them safe," says Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr.
The Sheriffs’ Association is also partnering with several groups to help coordinate the collection and delivery of additional vests and other equipment much needed by Ukrainian defense forces, such as helmets, night-vision equipment and QuikClot® gauze. Any sheriffs with surplus equipment to donate should contact Peter Kehoe.
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Son of Monroe County Sheriff Deployed to Germany |
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To Serve with Honor – (l - r) Second Lieutenant Zachary Baxter, his mother and his father, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter in a recent family photo.
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Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter's son, Zachary, was deployed to Germany recently with his unit.
Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Zachary Baxter completed his training and, instead of taking a standard two-week break, left for Europe soon afterwards.
“He’s an artilleryman. He went to field artillery school so that’s what he’ll be doing overseas,” said Baxter.
Sheriff Baxter himself spent 22 years in the army and three decades in law enforcement. However, it’s a different feeling when your child goes into potential danger. Even though his son is being stationed in Germany, the situation in Ukraine is in the back of Sheriff Baxter’s mind.
“It’s kind of surreal, the fact that your son is going to a place that’s getting hotter every day,” Baxter said. "As a parent, you never lose that feeling that you have to protect your kids."
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Oneida County Sheriff Appointed to Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team |
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Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol (pictured) has accepted an appointment to the New York State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team, administered by the State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence.
Established in 2012, the team of approximately 25 state and local representatives conducts a confidential, in-depth analysis of deaths or near-deaths that result from domestic violence. The objective is not to second-guess the handling of the closed cases, but identify ways to improve the overall response to domestic violence, with an eye toward preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Sheriff Maciol will serve as the team’s statutorily mandated law enforcement representative and was selected due to his involvement in state and local domestic violence initiatives during his tenure as Sheriff, including the New York State Domestic Violence Regional Councils and the local YWCA Domestic Violence Coalition. He will assist the team in understanding the role of law enforcement in domestic violence cases and participate in the development of statewide recommendations based on the work of the team.
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Gubernatorial Appointment for Suffolk County Sheriff |
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Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr. (pictured) was recently appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul as a Member of the New York State Municipal Police Training Council (MPTC). The Council promulgates minimum training requirements for newly appointed police and peace officers and a course of training for police officers appointed to supervisory positions. It also recommends rules and regulations for minimum standards for law enforcement and correctional training programs, instructor certifications, and develops and approves law enforcement model policies designed to enhance the way local law enforcement agencies serve and protect their communities.
The long-time Chair of the MPTC is Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, who is pleased to have Sheriff Toulon join him on the Council.
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Cayuga County Sheriff's Office Partners with Students to Honor Local Military Heroes |
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A Moving Tribute – In partnership with the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 704 of Cayuga County and Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office recently launched “These Heroes Ride with Us,” an initiative to honor the County’s servicemen and women. Pictured above in the left photo is student Cyrus Russell who helped design the magnetic stickers, shown as circled on the back of a Sheriff's Patrol Car and enlarged in the right photo.
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Sheriff Brian Schenck was looking for an opportunity to recognize the men and women of Cayuga County who gave their lives defending their country. He approached Terry Cuddy, Graphic Design and New Media instructor at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, and asked if his students could design magnetic stickers featuring local veterans. The resulting work provides a series of stickers that will be carried by Cayuga County Sheriff’s Patrol cars.
“The members of our Sheriff’s Office and I are honored to have the ability to recognize these Cayuga County Veterans through our ‘These Heroes Ride With Us’ program. Thank you to everyone that has helped make this recognition initiative possible. To the families of those we have lost, we thank you for your sacrifice,” said Sheriff Schenck.
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Awards and Accreditations |
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Niagara County Corrections Officers Honored for Role in Ending Hostage Situation |
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Awards, Part I – The New York State Sheriffs’ Institute handed out Correction Officer of the Year Awards to four COs during a recent meeting of the Niagara County Legislature. L to r, Chief Dan Greenwald, CO Michael Schiavitti, CO Sheri Schwartz, Niagara County Sheriff Michael Filicetti, CO Richard Blackburn, CO Kelly Milks, Deputy Chief Anthony Suess and Sheriffs’ Institute Executive Director Chris O’ Brien.
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Four Niagara County corrections officers were recognized for their roles in ending a hostage situation at the Niagara County Jail last summer.
Sheri Schwartz, Michael Schiavitti, Kelly Milks, and Richard Blackburn were all nominated and recognized with the Correction Officer of the Year Award by the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute.
The incident occurred when a male inmate overpowered a nurse during a medical checkup and took her hostage in order to escape. Officer Schiavitti was the first on the scene and attempted to de-escalate the situation. After the inmate refused to stand down, Schiavitti moved in to disarm him once officers Milks and Schwartz arrived on the scene. As the three officers attempted to disarm the inmate and free the nurse, Blackburn arrived on the scene as well, and assisted them in wrestling the inmate to the ground. Once down, Milks and Schwartz took the nurse to safety while Blackburn, Schiavitti, and other responding officers restrained the inmate.
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Building Bridges Program by the Niagara County Sheriff's Office Is Recognized by Sheriffs' Institute |
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Awards, Part II – The Innovative Program Award from the Sheriffs’ Institute is presented to (l - r) former County Legislator Owen Steed, Captain Matt LaGrange, Sheriff Filicetti, Lieutenant Dan Zimmerman, and Captain Mike Corcoran by Institute Executive Director O’Brien.
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The Niagara County Sheriff’s Office received the Innovative Program of the Year Award from the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute in recognition of its “Building Bridges Program,” which was launched in 2020. The program entails community outreach, where Sheriff’s Deputies accompany children on trips in the community such as to the Maid of the Mist, and Aquarium of Niagara.
“They could see the personable side of law enforcement, as opposed to seeing emergency responses in their neighborhood, or only calling the police when something bad is going on.” stated Lt. Daniel Zimmerman of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office. “They can see the side of us that’s an everyday person.”
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Road Patrol Divisions Earn Reaccreditation |
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Road Patrol Divisions from the Washington and Monroe County Sheriff’s Offices received reaccreditation status from the New York State Law Enforcement Agency Accreditation Council. |
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From left to right, DCJS Commissioner Rossana Rosado; Washington County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Todd Lemery; Gregory Austin, Chair of the Council and Chief of the Rye Brook Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s Captain Anthony LeClaire, who as program manager was recognized for his efforts throughout the assessment review and managing the accreditation program.
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Congratulations are also in order for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol Bureau for achieving re-accreditation. The Sheriff’s Office is in full compliance with Law Enforcement Accreditation Council’s 110 standards. Pictured at left is Chairman Austin and Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter. “We are proud of our team's diligent efforts to maintain these standards of excellence,” observed Sheriff Baxter.
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C-PASS Launches New Facebook Group Page |
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The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Committee on Policing and Safeguarding Schools (C-PASS) has launched a private Facebook group, with the goal to better communicate among its members and more readily share information.
Please note, however, that it is a "members-only" group, which means if you are not a C-PASS member, you cannot take part in the group. So join C-PASS today!
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We hope all law enforcement personnel had a safe and enjoyable St. Patrick’s Day.
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