February 2022 Monthly Report and Newsletter
Calls for Service: 1,625 Cases: 46 Area Patrols: 62 Stop and Talk 15 DWI/DWAI Arrests 6
EMT Responses 17 Vehicle Crashes 27 Property Damage only 25 Personal Injury 2 Fatalities 0
Arrests: 37 By Gender: Male: 24 Female: 13 Juvenile (unclassified) 0 By Race/Ethnicity: Black: 3 (2 male, 1 female) Hispanic: 1 (female) White: 33
Use of Force: 3, Type: 2 – Soft Hand Technique 1 – Conducted Energy Device
-By Race/Gender: 1 White Male, 1 Black Female, 1 Hispanic Female
Newsletter by Sheriff Jim Allard:
It’s a beautiful day in Steuben County. February saw ice, snow, sun and rain, sometimes all on the same day! Buds are visible on the maple trees and syrup season is near. As we look forward to spring weather we can almost guarantee at least one more significant snow before we move away from winter.
February was another busy and challenging month in the Sheriff’s Office. Our investigators and deputies were tasked with a death investigation, five assault investigations, a burglary investigation, one animal rescue investigation, two stolen vehicle investigations, seven larceny investigations, four drug investigations, one school threat investigation, two fire investigations, three sex offense investigations, and three violations of orders of protection investigations. Our Patrol Division was tasked with a rescue of a horse which was tangled in an electric fence in a waterway, four domestic incident investigations, six DWI/DWAI investigations and arrests, and twenty seven crash investigations.
Deputy Josh VanSkiver and the Sheriff’s Office were recognized in February by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), NYS STOP-DWI Foundation and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Council (GTSC). Deputy VanSkiver was recognized for individual performance in 2019 and 2020 for his enforcement efforts in DWI/DWAI arrests, 48 and 45 arrests respectively.
The Sheriff’s Office was recognized for being a top agency in NYS in 2020 for again logging over 100 DWI/DWAI arrests cumulatively. Congratulations to Deputy VanSkiver!
Corrections Officer James Towner was promoted to Sergeant in the jail in January and attended the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Course in Corrections Supervision held here at the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. Sergeant Towner was joined by new supervisors from Livingston County and Chemung County in this training. Investigators Ellison and Payne completed the 105 hour NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services Course in Police Supervision hosted by SUNY Alfred and held at the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office. Defensive Tactics Instructors from our Office teamed up with an instructor from the Corning Police Department to offer a Defensive Tactics In-Service training at the Sheriff’s Office. Our goal is to offer this training at different times and locations throughout the year to all agencies in Steuben County. Our Office was again blessed with the partnership and assistance provided by our Volunteer Fire Services, local Police Departments, Emergency Management Office, New York State Police and the Finger Lakes SPCA and Hornell Humane Society.
Sheriff Allard attended the National Sheriff’s Association Conference in Washington DC. Sheriff Allard received instruction in officer wellness, employee background investigations, building a culture of professionalism, the evolution of policing, school safety and threat assessment, upcoming initiatives by the Bureau of Justice, and a briefing on the national state of policing by the owner of Axon Inc. and Lexipol Inc.
Sheriff Allard also met with Congresswoman Tenney and the staff of Congressman Reed to discuss criminal justice issues.
Undersheriff McNelis chaired the inaugural conference for school resource officers held by CPASS, the New York State Sheriff’s Association School Resource group, in Saratoga County. Over 120 SROs and Deputies attended training which included presentations from the Principal of Columbine, Colorado, School District, a parent survivor of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, National Threat Assessment Center of the US Secret Service and a convicted and paroled school shooter. Undersheriff McNelis has worked diligently with other Sheriff’s Offices across the state to ensure that New York State SROs continue to receive cutting edge training to keep our children safe.
In the jail, we are again Covid free. February saw our annual cycle review of policy and standards by the NYS Commission of Correction. All is well.
We continue to pray for those who have lost family members due to the pandemic and for all Ukrainians suffering under Russian aggression.
Thank you for supporting the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office in these challenging times and stay safe!
