Sheriff's Road Patrols

Today's newspaper features an article about the county's 2011 Public Safety services.

In the article, the sheriff's road patrols are listed as a "mandated item." The road patrols are included in the story as "mandated" because that is how they appear on the county's breakdown of 2011 services.

A screenshot of the document can be found at right, as can a link to the county's budget department.

Commenters on the website and callers to the newsroom today have pointed out that the sheriff is only mandated to operate a jail and provide certain civil duties such as the transportation of inmates. Road patrols are not a mandated service. The Sheriff's Office does, however, use its road patrols for the transportation of inmates and for the serving of summonses -- which are mandated services.

As can be seen on the document at right, the county has the "Authority Issuing Mandate" as "NYS Laws."

In his summary of the service for 2011, Sheriff Joe Gerace answered the form's several questions as follows:

Q: Number of Chautauqua County Residents who utilize this service (if applicable):
A: Available to anyone needing assistance.

Q: Benefit/Rationale of Service:
A: Provide public safety and security for the residents and visitors of Chautauqua County. Duties include: traffic safety/control, arrest of offenders, accident investigation, criminal investigation, response to 911 calls, prisoner transports, serve civil papers, DWI enforcement, education presentations, K-9. Many members of this division are assigned to SWAT, WET, Bomb Squad, Hostage Negotiations, Accident Reconstruction, Fire Investigation, Forensic Investigation.

Q: Justification for current staffing levels (ie, to meet NYS minimum standards for caseloads):
A: Minimum staffing utilized to meet call volume, geographic area, and officer safety.

Q: Justification for current contractual costs (ie, cost of supplies):
A: All contractual cost necessary for public safety functionality. Expenditures consistently reviewed and best possible prices obtained.

Q: Can this service be provided by the private sector? If yes, please provide a brief explanation:
A: No

Q: Consequence if service is not provided: Impact on public:
A: Definite threat to public safety. Would result in no 911 emergency responses or a greatly delayed response. Decreased traffic safety, emergency response, homeland security, increased criminality. Will force local communities to consider re-establishing police agencies which had been previously consolidated to reduce costs. Decentralization would likely result in increased taxpayer expense.

Q: Impact on other county operations:
A: Safety of County employees. Loss of all other services provided to County agencies and operations.

Q: Can any other service levels be considered? If yes, please provide a brief explanation:
A: Yes – However, current staffing is below NYS Division of Criminal Justice Service staffing recommendations. Further reductions will result in delayed responses, impact officer safety and increase criminality including DWI, burglaries, thefts, etc. County minimally staffed with current levels. Further reductions will result in re-assignment of deputies from criminal investigation, drug task force and crime scene investigations to road patrol. COST-BENEFIT OF ANY FURTHER REDUCTION SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED!