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Volume 395                                                                                                                   October 7, 2016
File 25
News of the NYS Sheriffs' Association
U.S. Department of Justice Honors Washington County Sheriff's Office "Community First" Program

U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of NY Richard Hartunian presented an award to Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy today honoring the “Community First” program that Sheriff Murphy initiated soon after taking office. The award is part of “National Community Policing Week,” and the Sheriff’s Office was the only agency in the 32-county Northern District recognized. Please click here to read more.

Executive Director Attends NSA President's Meeting 
Association President, Sheriff Chris Farber of Herkimer County, and Executive Director Peter Kehoe this week attended a meeting of the NSA’s Committee of State Sheriff’s Associations in Mackinac Island, Michigan.  The two met with their counterparts from around the country to share ideas on how Associations can better provide programs and services for Sheriffs.  Pictured L to R:Gary DeLand, retired Executive Director of the Utah Sheriffs’ Association; Jim Finnell of Mag Global Companies; Sheriff Farber; Terry Jungel, Executive Director of the Michigan Sheriffs’ Association; Steve Westbrook, Executive Director of the Texas Sheriffs’ Association and Executive Director Kehoe.
Brooks Bigwarfe Appointed St. Lawrence County Undersheriff

St. Lawrence County Sheriff Kevin Wells has named Brooks J. Bigwarfe as the new undersheriff of the St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office. Undersheriff Bigwarfe is a 29-year veteran of the Sheriff's Office and has held the positions of deputy, K9 officer, D.A.R.E. officer, juvenile officer, and detective sergeant.

Wells says Bigwarfe will continue to bring his “enthusiasm and professionalism and great mentoring abilities to the young staff of this Sheriff's Office.” Congratulations!

Jail Administrators From 51 Counties Attend Training Program
Photo: James Barrella, Esteban Gonzalez, William Hanna III, James Jones, Anita Washington, Nicole Brinson, John Heisler III, Matthew Kearney and Christopher Koeppe of the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office, upon completion of NYSSA’s Jail Administrator Continuing Education Program, receive certificates from Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo; NYSSA President Chris Farber, Sheriff of Herkimer County; and Broome County Sheriff Dave Harder.

Over 115 county jail administrators from 51 county sheriff’s offices attended the Jail Administrators’ Continuing Education Conference at the Gideon Putnam Hotel in Saratoga Springs, NY last week. Presentations included:

- Westchester County DOCS Commissioner Kevin Cheverko discussing DOJ Federal Review of Jails.

- Allegany County Jail Administrator Chris Ivers presenting on the AJA Certified Jail Manager Program.

-Albany County Jail Deputy Superintendent Mike Lyons discussing their “Soldier On” Program along with Jack Downing of Soldier On

- Columbia County Jail Administrator Thom Lanphear presenting on their Children of Incarcerated Parents Program along with Joan Hunt, Project Coordinator, Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood.

- Chautauqua County Employment and Re-Entry Task Force Facilitator Cody Ann Weise presenting on their Reentry Task Force Program Ready Set Work.

- Schenectady County Jail Deputy Superintendent Robert Cuttita  discussing their Peer Mentoring Support Program along with Lynne Davidson of Ellis Hospital.

- New York State Sheriffs’ Association (NYSSA) President Christopher Farber (Herkimer County Sheriff) presented certificates at the close of the conference along with Saratoga County Sheriff Mike Zurlo, and Broome County Sheriff Dave Harder.

New York State Sheriffs' Association (NYSSA) President Christopher Farber (Herkimer County Sheriff) presented certificates at the close of the conference along with Saratoga County Sheriff Mike Zurlo, and Broome County Sheriff Dave Harder. The conference is part of a training series offered each year by NYSSA.

Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard Promotes Yellow Dot Program
Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard held a press conference in Buffalo recently kicking off a year-long effort to raise awareness of the Yellow Dot Program. NYSSA Associate Counsel Alex Wilson attended, along with community and business leaders from Erie County who have partnered with Sheriff Howard to promote the program. Events are planned in towns across Erie County over the course of the next 12 months. “Upon learning of the Yellow Dot Program, I immediately implemented it in Erie County," Sheriff Howard said. "Because I believe so strongly in this lifesaving program, I wanted to find partners that could help disseminate the information every day and the organizations here today will help achieve that goal.” Since its launch in 2012, New York's Sheriffs have distributed over 2.5 million Yellow Dot kits free of charge.
Sheriffs Meet with FBI Director James Comey

Eight Sheriffs were among those who recently attended a meeting with FBI Director James Comey at FBI headquarters in Albany. The director said that his visit to Albany was a part of an effort to get out into the field and meet with the FBI’s partners in law enforcement to hear their concerns. The affable 6’7” director delivered some interesting remarks, personal and professional, and then agreed to take questions on any topic – including Hilary’s emails. No one asked about the emails but the director did frankly answer several other questions posed by the Sheriffs and others present. Shown  L-R:  Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond; Executive Director Peter Kehoe; Warren County Sheriff Bud York; Rensselaer County Sheriff Pat Russo; Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino; Saratoga County Sheriff Mike Zurlo; Association President and Herkimer County Sheriff Chris Farber and Oneida County Sheriff Robert Maciol. Also present at the gathering was Ulster County Sheriff Paul Van Blarcum.

Traffic Safety
National School Bus Safety Week, October 17-21
National School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program and an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties - to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. Designed to promote school bus safety, school districts throughout the country observe School Bus Safety Week - held during the third week in October each year. 
 
For more information about this event, click  here. Link:  http://napt.org/resources/national-school-bus-safety-week.php
 

National Teen Driver Safety Week, October 16-22
Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for 14-18 year olds in the US. In fact, in 2014, there were 2,614 teen (15-19 year old) passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes and an estimated 130,000 were injured. Yet, a recent survey shows that only 25% of parents have had a serious talk with their kids about the key components of driving. Parents need to take the time to talk with their kids about the many dangers of driving. Those dangers include alcohol, seat belts, texting, speeding, and extra passengers.
 
For more information about this event, click  hereLink: http://www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov/teens
 

Save the Date
The NYS Sheriffs' Association's 83rd Annual Winter Training Conference will take place January 23 - 26, 2017 at The Desmond in Albany, NY. Save the date! More details to follow!  
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