Volume 385                                                                                                                 February 26, 2016 
File 25
News of the NYS Sheriffs' Association
Sheriffs in the Spotlight
Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum is the subject of a new article in the National Rifle Association's monthly publication, America's 1st Freedom, where he says that the average pistol permit holder is probably a better shot than most cops. The March edition of the NRA's publication features a nearly 2,500-word article by Frank Miniter titled "On the Front Lines."  In it, Van Blarcum is featured for comments he made after two heavily armed attackers killed 14 people in San Bernardino, Calif. last December, urging citizens in his county to carry their firearms, if they are licensed and adequately trained to do so.  Click here to view the article.
Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts and Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley were recognized at the recent NYSAC Conference for having completed the prestigious Dennis A. Pelletier County Government Institute, a comprehensive educational program for county officials designed to enchance the knowledge, skills and abilities of county officials to allow them to engage in informed, constructive and civil discussions on the challenges they face as public servants.  Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, a 2009 Pelletier graduate, is the only other sheriff to complete the course. 

Photo (l to r): NYSAC President, Hon. William Cherry; Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts; Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike; Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley; NYSAC Executive Director Steve Acquario, and NYSSA Executive Director Kehoe.
Sheriff Represented at Key Events
Among the Sheriffs who attended the NYSAC Public Safety Committee Meeting chaired by Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike earlier this month were back row (l to r): Columbia County Sheriff Dave Bartlett, Chemung County Sheriff Chris Moss, Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, Saratoga County Sheriff Mike Zurlo, Niagara County Sheriff Jim Voutour, Gensee County Sheriff Gary Maha; front row (l to r): Cattaraugus County Sheriff Tim Whitcomb, Herkimer County Sheriff Chris Farber, Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts, and Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley.

The Public Safety committee meeting continues to be the most popular committee meeting at the NYSAC conference, always with a full house. Click here to view NYSAC 2016 Legislative Priorities.
The National Sheriffs' Association was proud to gather with the NC/SC Counter Terror group in Charleston, SC this month to discuss strategies for dealing with critical incidents. Sen Lindsey Graham spoke on the final day about ISIS threats to the Homeland. 

Photo:  Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour  (left) pictured with  US  Senator Lindsey Graham (R - South Carolina) and Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon  at the National Sheriffs' Association's Counterterrorism Confer ence.
Allegany County Sheriff Ricky Whitney Receives
Re-Accreditation of Corrections Division
Allegany County Sheriff Ricky Whitney was honored before the County Legislature on Monday for the re-ac creditation of his Corrections Division. Executive Director  Peter Kehoe presented the Certificate of Accreditation, stating “Fewer than half of the State’s 62 counties have qualified for Corrections Division Accreditation.” Peter  also recognized the Allegany County corrections division staff whose efforts were crucial to  success in the re-accreditation process: Corrections Officer Hal Hurlburt, Corrections Officer Jeffrey Kinney, Assistant Jail Administrator Lt. Kevin Morsman and Jail Administrator Christopher Ivers. 

Photo (l to r): Allegany County Corrections Officer Hal Hurlburt, Jail Administrator Christopher Ivers, Sheriff Ricky Whitney, Assistant Jail Administrator Lt. Kevin Morsman, and Corrections Officer Jeffrey Kinney.

Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty Receives Re-Accreditation of Corrections Division
Livingston County Sheriff Thomas Dougherty  was honored before the County Board of Supervisors for the re-accreditation of his Corrections Division in December. Executive Director Peter Kehoe presented the Certificate of Accreditation, stating that fewer than half of the county jails in New York have achieved this status. "Livingston County is also one of only five Sheriff’s Offices in New York State that have achieved and maintained accreditation in all five divisions," Peter said.

Sheriff Dougherty said “The credit isn’t with the Sheriff; it’s with our hard working members.” The following Livingston County corrections division staff whose efforts were crucial to  success in the re-accreditation process were recognized: Patrica Avery, Sergeant Jeremy Slocum, Sergeant Jeff Hammond, Chief Deputy Jason Yasso.

Photo (l to r): Patrica Avery, Sergeant Jeremy Slocum, Sergeant Jeff Hammond, Chief Deputy Jason Yasso, Sheriff Thomas Dougherty, Executive Director Kehoe and Undersheriff Bean
Sheriffs in the News
Chemung County Sheriff Chris Moss recently announced a cross-border initiative with his neighboring Bradford County, Pennsylvania Sheriff C.J. Walters. Under the agreement between the two County Sheriffs each Sheriff’s Office will assist residents of the other county to obtain non-residential pistol permits. Bradford County residents who either own land in Chemung County, work there, or frequently conduct business there will be able to apply for a New York non-residential pistol permit through the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office. Similarly, qualifying Chemung County residents will be assisted in obtaining a non-resident permit in Bradford County. 

Photo (l to r): Chemung County Undersheriff William A. Schrom; Chemung County Sheriff Christopher J. Moss; Bradford County Sheriff C.J. Walters; and Bradford County Chief Deputy David Hart.
Among the large crowd attending the recent swearing-in ceremony of Warren County Sheriff Bud York were neighboring Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy, Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe. Attendees were treated to a beautiful musical rendition by Bud's wife, Cheryl York, his daughters Reigan Quintal and Jude Lehman, and his granddaughter Julia Quintal. Sheriff York used the occasion to announce that he would not seek another term as sheriff.

Photo (l to r) : Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy; Warren County Sheriff Bud York; Warren County District Attorney Kate Hogan and NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe
Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike Appointed to NSA Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the National Sheriffs’ Association is made up of the seven elected nationwide Sheriffs serving as association officers, the immediate past president, and five members from the twenty-one Sheriffs on the Board of Directors. Due to the retirement of a long time sheriff board member from Oklahoma a vacancy occurred. On February 9, 2016 at the NSA Annual Winter conference NSA President Sheriff Danny Glick from Wyoming appointed New York State Sheriff on the Board of Directors, Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike to serve on the Executive Committee. Sheriff Spike was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2009 and re-elected since. He serves on the National Sheriffs’ Institute and Training Outreach, Global Policing Affairs, and Court Security, Civil and Correction committees. Sheriff Spike is in his 7th  term as Sheriff and serves as the NYS Sheriffs Institute Chairman of the BOD. The Sheriffs’ Summer Camp is located on Keuka Lake in Yates County.
Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois Receives Triple Crown Award at NSA Winter Conference
Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois was presented with the Triple Crown Award by NSA Executive Director Jonathan Thompson and NSA President Sheriff Danny Glick, Laramie County, WY. The Triple Crown Award recognizes those sheriff that  achieve simultaneous accreditation from the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, the American Correctional Association's Commission on Accreditation for Corrections and the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare. Achieving these accreditations individually is a daunting task.  Acquiring all three at the same time is an extraordinary feat. In fact, the Triple Crown distinction is so rare, that since the establishment of the award in 1993, fewer than 100 sheriffs' offices, of the more than 3,000 in the nation, have qualified for this distinction.

Photo: NSA Executive Director Jonathan Thompson; Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois; NSA President Danny Glick, Sheriff Laramie County, WY
National Sheriffs' Association Winter Conference Recap
A delegation of New York Sheriffs attended the National Sheriffs' Association Winter Training Conference in Washington, DC this month. Among the topics addressed at the conference were: The Impact of Zadvydas V. Davis on Criminal Releases; Improving Officer and Victim Safety Through Language Access at Crime Scenes; and The Virtues of Principled Resistance to DOJ Investigations. 

Sheriff's from New York attending the conference included Broome County Sheriff Dave Harder, Delaware County Sheriff Thomas Mills, Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha, Greene County Sheriff Greg Seeley, Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour, Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois, Putnam County Sheriff Don Smith, Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond and Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike. Association Executive Director Peter Kehoe and Deputy Executive Director Chuck Gallo also attended.

Sheriff Spike serves as a Member of the NSA Board of Directors, Sheriff Maha is Vice Chair of NSA's CJIS/Technology Committee, and several of the other New York Sheriff participants in the conference serve on various NSA committees. 

Photo: Broome County Sheriff Dave Harder, Deputy Director Chuck Gallo, Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, Niagara County Sheriff Jim Voutour, Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois, Putnam County Sheriff Don Smith, Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha, and Delaware County Sheriff Thomas Mills.
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 New York State Sheriffs' Association | 518-434-9091 | www.nysheriffs.org