File 25

The New York State Sheriffs' Association

Volume 366

February 10, 2015

Thanks to our Diamond Partners

National Sheriffs' Association 2015 Winter Conference Wrap Up

NSA Board of Directors at the NSA conference in Washington DC. NYSSAI President, Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike is pictured in the top row.

Committee of State Sheriffs' Association Executive Directors Meeting at the NSA conference in Washington DC. NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe is pictured in the top row.

Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the Major County Sheriffs' Association Meeting, held in conjunction with the NSA Winter Training Conference, on the need for community policing.

A delegation of New York Sheriffs attended the National Sheriffs' Association Winter Training Conference in Washington, DC last week, as the NSA kicked off its 75th Anniversary year. Among the topics addressed at the conference were: DEA's War on Synthetic Drugs; Safeguarding Children of Arrested Parents; Juvenile Justice Reform; Autism & Asperger's Syndrome and the Police Response; and Biometrics: Human Recognition Technology for Law Enforcement.

Sheriff's from New York attending the conference included Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha, Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, Ontario County Sheriff Phil Povero, Niagara County Sheriff James Voutour, Putnam County Sheriff Don Smith, and Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts. Association staff attending included Executive Director Peter Kehoe, Institute Executive Director Chris O'Brien, Deputy Executive Director Chuck Gallo, and Associate Counsel Alex Wilson.

Sheriff Spike is a Member of the NSA Board of Directors, Sheriff Maha is Vice Chair of NSA's CJIS/Technology Committee, and the other New York Sheriff participants in the conference all serve on various NSA committees. Our attendees will share information gained from the NSA sessions at our own Winter Training Conference, which is coming up February 22 - 25, 2015.

Remembering Former Jefferson County Sheriff Alfred P. O'Neill

Former Jefferson County Sheriff Alfred P. O'Neill, 82, passed away Friday morning, Feb. 6, at Samaritan Medical Center, Watertown.

The father of Jefferson County Sheriff Colleen O'Neill, Al was a US Navy Frogman with the UDT (Underwater Demolition Team). He began his distinguished career in law enforcement with the NYC Police Dept. He then attended the NYS Troopers Academy and served as a NYS Trooper from 1956 - 1977. In 1977 he was elected the Jefferson County Sheriff and served the county until 1985. He then became the assistant commissioner of the NYS Department of Corrections, retiring in 1992.

He was a member of the Retired NYS Troopers Assoc., Black Horse Chapter, FBI National Academy Associates, NYS Troopers PBA, and the NYS Sheriffs Association. He was a member and past president of the Shawangunk Mt. Snowmobile & Rescue Club and a past commander of the American Legion Colon Couch Post 821. Al was a life member of the NRA, a member of the UDT Seal Society, and a communicant of St. Mary's Church.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11, at St. Mary's Church, 521 James St., Clayton. Burial in St. Mary's Cemetery will be at the convenience of the family in the spring.

Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike Chairs Public Safety Committee Meeting of the NYS Association of Counties

Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike Chairs last week's NYSAC Public Safety Committee Meeting. Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts also attended.

Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, chairman of the NYSAC Public Safety Committee, again hosted a packed meeting of the committee, held in conjunction with NYSAC's Annual Winter Conference in Albany last week. Among others participating in the conference were Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts, Nassau County Sheriff Mike Sposato, Monroe County Undersheriff Bill Sanborn, Association Executive Director Peter Kehoe, Institute Executive Director Chris O'Brien and our Associate Counsel Alex Wilson who gave the Public Safety Committee a presentation on the legal obligation of county jails to provide inmates with the latest in Hepatitis C medication despite the high cost of the medicine. Several other Sheriffs who planned to attend the conference were forced to cancel because of Monday's major snow storm.

NYSSA Associate Counsel Alex Wilson presented to the Public Safety Committee on the legal obligation of county jails regarding the latest Hepatitis C medication.

Rockland County Sheriff's Civil Division Receives Re-Accreditation

(l to r) From Rockland County Sheriff's Office: Deputy Jan Hoose, Deputy Jared Rudnick, Undersheriff Mary Barbera, Lt. Dennis Salemo, Sr. Deputy Chris Schaub and from NYSSA Executive Director Peter Kehoe.

(l to r) Executive Director Peter Kehoe, Rockland County Sheriff's Lt. Dennis Salemo, Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco III

Sheriff Lou Falco III and the men and women of the Rockland County Sheriff's Civil Division were honored last week at a ceremony in the County Legislature's chambers in which the Civil Division was given re-accreditation by the New York State Sheriffs' Association for another five year period. Among those who spoke in praise of the professionalism of the Sheriff's Office were County Executive Ed Day; County Legislators Harriet Cornell and Aney Paul; and County Clerk Paul Piperato. Executive Director Peter Kehoe relayed to Sheriff Falco and his staff the congratulations of all the New York Sheriffs for this achievement. Honored for their diligent efforts in managing the civil accreditation project were Lt. Dennis Salemo, Deputy Jan Hoose, Deputy Jared Rudnick, and Sr. Deputy Chris Schaub, along with Undersheriff Mary Barbera who supervised the project. The Rockland County Sheriff's Office also holds Jail Accreditation and Law Enforcement Accreditation, and Sheriff Falco announced at the ceremony that his Office would soon seek accreditation of the communications division, thus completing all available state-level accreditations.

Yellow Dot Profiled in Monroe County Crime Prevention Corner Video

Click arrow above to view Monroe County Sheriff's Office Crime Prevention Corner on the Yellow Dot Program.

Monroe County Deputy Rich Tantalo recently spoke to senior citizens at the Maplewood YMCA about the benefits of the New York State Sheriff's Association's Yellow Dot program. The video above was produced to promote the program as part of S.O.A.R., the Sheriff's Office Association of Retirees. Click here to view the Monroe County S.O.A.R. website.

Career of Recently Retired Rensselaer County Captain Robert Eckert Celebrated

After 38 years of service to Rensselaer County, Captain Robert Eckert retired from his post as a Captain with the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office at the end of 2014. Friends, coworkers and well wishers attended a farewell reception last week to honor his many years of service and wish him well on his future endeavors. Thank you for your career of service!

Suffolk County Correction Officer Honored for Commitment to Youth

Suffolk County Correction Officer Monique McCray was honored by the Suffolk County Legislature for her exceptional work with youth inside the jail and in her community. In January, she was also named Officer of the Year by the Southampton Kiwanis Club at their annual police awards ceremony. Well deserved!

Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois Presents Criminal Justice Scholarship

Orange County Sheriff Carl DuBois presented the NYS Sheriffs' Association Institute's Criminal Justice Scholarship to recipient John Ihly, a Criminal Justice student at SUNY Orange. Sheriff Carl DuBois was proud to present Mr. Ihly a check and certificate on behalf of the New York State Sheriff's Association Institute. Mr. Ihly was accompanied by SUNY Orange Dept Chair Dennis O'Loughlin and proud members of his family.

Safety Tips/ Traffic Safety Initiatives:

St. Patrick's Day 2015 Drunk Driving Prevention Campaign

March 17, 2015

Sheriffs' Association and Institute

Programs 2015:

Sheriff's Annual

Winter Training Conference

Feb 22-25, 2015

The Desmond, Albany, NY

Basic Civil Schools

Phase 1 April 13-17

Phase 2 May 18-22

NYSSA Offices, Albany, NY

Victim Notification Conference

April 22

Holiday Inn Wolf Road, Albany, NY

Civil Supervisor Training Conference

May 11-13

Gideon Putnam, Saratoga Springs, NY

Undersheriffs Training Conference

June 8-10

Gideon Putnam, Saratoga Springs, NY

Sheriff's Annual

Summer Training Conference

July 13-17, 2015

Lake Placid, NY

Law Enforcement Supervisors

Training Conference

September 14 - 16

Gideon Putnam, Saratoga Springs, NY

Jail Administrators' Training Conference

September 28 - October 1

Gideon Putnam, Saratoga Springs, NY