The Beards are Back in Town — The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office once again held its annual Beard for Bucks and Dough for Does fundraiser. Male employees can grow a beard from October 1 through December 31 if they donate $25, and the female employees hold a 50-50 raffle. The money goes to the Allegany County Area Foundation for the “Shop with a Cop” fund. The Sheriff’s Office raised $1,760 this year, bringing the total collected since the fundraiser started in 2012 to $11,500.

Many Toys for Many Tots — Members of the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office pose with a selection from the recent Toys for Tots Drive (l – r) Sheriff Craig DuMond, Sgt. Heath Goff, Sgt. Donald Simonds, Corrections Officer Paul Moore, Corrections Officer Amanda Hoehl, Senior Investigator Christopher Erwin, Major John Demeo, Cpl. Matthew Cammer, Deputy Sheriff Collin Roche, Lt. Alan Weaver, Investigator David Barnes, Administrative Asst. Jessica Miller, Sgt. Tyler McAteer and Undersheriff Kim Smith.

Not Quite Reindeer, But They’ll Do — The Erie County Sheriff's Office Mounted Reserve Unit will continue its semi-annual tradition of raising funds and food for the less fortunate. In mid-December, Deputies and their horses took part in "Mounted for Meals,” benefitting the Response To Love Center in Buffalo. Food donations were accepted, as well as dropping some "loot in the boot"! This tradition, held during the Christmas and Easter seasons, began more than 20 years ago.

But Wait, There’s More — The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office participated in the annual “Stuff the

Cruiser” toy drive. Members of various law enforcement agencies throughout the County were stationed at stores to collect toys for children ages 18 and under. Participants included the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office, Genesee County Probation Department, New York State Police, the City of Batavia and Village of LeRoy Police Departments and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Pictured above at one location (l – r) are Genesee County Undersheriff Bradley D. Mazur, Deputy Jeremiah W. Gechell and New York State Trooper Kelli S. Fitch.

Need Gift Advice? — The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office hosted its 20^th annual Shop with a Cop event, one of several community-oriented events organized by the Sheriff’s Office that brings joy to young and old alike. In return, County residents have been generous donors to the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute.

Lights that Shine through the Darkness — The Livingston County Sheriff’s Office held its second annual “Operation Light it Up” event to brighten the day of Livingston County seniors in nursing facilities and Noyes Hospital in Dansville. The caravan made multiple stops at care facilities throughout the County, displaying safety lights, sirens, air horns, Christmas music and even Santa!

Gifts for Giving — The Madison County Sheriff’s Office held its Fifth Annual Shop with a Sheriff event. Members of the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Division, Corrections Division, School Resource Officers,

and Civil Division were joined by members of the Madison County Children’s Advocacy Center and Office of Emergency Management to shop with 36 children from the community. The money supporting

the event came directly from the Deputies and Corrections Officers of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office who raised funds through their No Shave Fundraiser.

Above, a young participant selects his gift with the help of Madison County Sheriff’s School Resource Officer Scott Davis (right).

Cut it Out! — Over the Thanksgiving holiday the Niagara County Sheriff’s Office hosted Coffee with a Cop programs, where community residents have breakfast and meet members of the Sheriff’s staff. These events encourage people to engage with law enforcement personnel in a fun and informal setting that includes visitors having their picture taken with a life-sized cutout of Sheriff Michael Filicetti (far left).

Joy to You and Thee — For Christmas, staff from the Niagara County Sheriff's Office annually participate in the Shop with a Cop Event. Typically, 20 or more children from throughout the community are paired with Deputies, Corrections Officers and Specialized Personnel. They travel to Walmart in patrol vehicles to pick out gifts for themselves and their families. Pictured are Niagara County Sheriff’s Deputy Charlene Rutkowski (far left) and Captain Tracy Steen (far right) with two event participants.

A Great Abundance — For Thanksgiving the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office teamed up with Pryputniewicz Farm in Waterville for a donation of 5,000 pounds of potatoes to assist the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the Utica Food Pantry. The potatoes were used in Thanksgiving meals with other items donated from across the community. Over 1,000 meals (pictured above) were provided to local families in need.

In preparation for Christmas, the Sheriff’s Office once again partnered with Clinton Tractor for three New Holland T8 Tractors and Wagons. Two tractors are auctioned off via local radio programs, with proceeds going to Operation Sunshine’s “Stuff the Bus CNY Toy Drive.” The last tractor is donated to Joseph's Experience, an organization that assists families with children impacted by cancer and leukemia. Its founder, Dr. Mark Montgomery, will gift the tractor to a child battling a serious illness.

Less Shaving, More $$$ — Members from the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Division and Highway Patrol raised $12,200 from this year’s “No Shave November Plus,” which runs through February 2023. Half the proceeds were donated to the START Children’s Center to purchase gifts for those in need this holiday season. A check for the other half raised was presented to the Rensselaer County Department of Youth.

First Responders Go the Extra Mile — For the past nine years, Sheriff Michael Zurlo and members of the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office have organized and hosted “Convoy for Tots.” The event’s mission is to generate donations and awareness for Capital Region Toys for Tots.

Not to be Outdone — The Seneca County Deputy Sheriff’s Police Benevolent Association conducted its Eighth Annual “Shop with a Sheriff” event. As in past years, members of the PBA escorted ten children who live throughout the County and were chosen to participate in the event. PBA members

volunteered their time to take the children Christmas shopping. Following the shopping spree was a pizza lunch and a guest appearance from Santa Claus.

Pictured with their hauls are (l – r) Deputy Daniel Jacobsen, Deputy Travis Gantz, Deputy Zachary Presher, Sergeant Jeffrey Steuer, Deputy Zachary Nelson and Deputy Christopher Greco.

Putting the Share in Sheriff — The Steuben County Sheriff’s Office has had a busy holiday season, with two “Fill the Patrol Car” events resulting in donations for “Toys for Tots” as well as “Coats for Kids.” The toys go directly to the local Toys for Tots representative and the coats are distributed among 12 county school districts. The Sheriff’s Office also hosted three “Shop with a Cop” events, pairing School Resource Officers with youngsters to shop for their families and themselves. One of these events was held at a local domestic violence center. Last but not least, the County Jail adopted a family for Christmas, providing gifts and other items to one family in need.

Give, Give and Give Again — The Ulster County Sheriff's Office has a longstanding partnership with People's Place in the City of Kingston, an agency that has helped underserved community members for the last 50 years. People's Place hosts fundraisers such as Project Santa, where members of the Sheriff’s Office participate as “Santa on the Rooftop” during the Christmas in July fundraiser. In 2021, partnering with the First Responders Children's Foundation, the Sheriff’s Office dropped off new toys at People's Place and took part in the Project Santa Giveaway Day, with members fulfilling Christmas wish lists for children and families in need. 

Decked with Smiles — At the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office (l – r), Sergeant Jodi Hares, with Corrections Officers Armand Miale, Lena Wilson and Lyndsi Wernert, load up a generous helping of

gifts for this year’s Helping Hearts toy drive. Helping Hearts, Lyons, is a nonprofit charitable organization whose vision is simply “Everyone works together to help those in need.” Employees of the

Wayne County Sheriff’s Office donated gifts to assist those families that could use a little help this time of year. Thank you to all who participated in putting smiles on some children’s faces!

Conference Registration           Hotel Registration

C-PASS is pleased to announce its second annual C-PASS School Safety Training Conference and Networking Dinner. This four-day event runs February 20 through 23, 2023, at the Courtyard by Marriott/Excelsior Springs Event Center in Saratoga Springs. We encourage Sheriffs to send their School Resource Officers and School Resource Deputies to this event. Click here to register for the Conference and for hotel rooms.