“Sheriff Allard has made many troubling public statements criticizing Legislators, specifically Legislator VanEtten, and staff members such as the County Manager”
From Steuben County NY,
In response to the presentation at the March 11th Finance Committee meeting and subsequent social media post, there are some additional facts that are being presented.
Since Sheriff Allard took office in 2017, the Steuben County Legislature and administration have supported the Sheriff’s efforts to enhance public safety. As displayed in the table below, since 2017, Steuben County has increased the budgeted expenses of the Road Patrol by 92% and the Jail by 70%. This represents $7 million more invested in public safety in 2025 compared to Sheriff Allard’s first year in office. In terms of staffing, the Legislature approved Sheriff Allard’s recommendations to add more positions to the Road Patrol, increasing its force size from 30 positions in 2017 to 41 positions in 2025. These investments have increased the wages and retirement benefits for Deputies and the wages of Jail staff, with anticipated enhanced retirement benefits on the horizon. The County has authorized the procurement of additional vehicles, software, and other tools our law enforcement officers require, and these initiatives will continue in the future.
These figures clearly demonstrate the Legislature and administration’s support of public safety, allocating significantly more tax dollars to these efforts, while other County departments have either remained flat, or decreased in size. The Sheriff’s claim of an anti-law enforcement bias is not supported by the facts. It is important to highlight that during this same period, Legislator VanEtten served either as Chair of the Finance Committee or as Chair of the Legislature, and consistently voted in favor of this historic growth. This demonstrates clear support for law enforcement and its advancement, rather than any bias against it.
Sheriff Allard has done tremendous work strengthening public safety in Steuben County, and the Legislature has supported and praised him for these efforts. In 2020, the County Manager submitted a letter of nomination for Sheriff Allard for a National Sheriff of the Year Award. His work in this area is recognized and appreciated.
| Sheriffs Office County Cost | ||
| Road Patrol | Jail | |
| 2017 | $2,789,103 | $6,863,076 |
| 2018 | $3,028,743 | $7,183,556 |
| 2019 | $3,541,658 | $7,462,101 |
| 2020 | $4,004,224 | $8,459,879 |
| 2021 | $4,496,407 | $9,029,061 |
| 2022 | $4,498,526 | $9,521,324 |
| 2023 | $4,573,885 | $10,548,817 |
| 2024 | $4,783,644 | $11,264,883 |
| 2025 | $5,358,537 | $11,675,917 |
| Increase 2017-Current | $2,569,434 | $4,812,841 |
| Percent Increase Since 2017 | 92.12% | 70.13% |
However, over the past four years, the Sheriff has lacked the ability to effectively navigate another critical aspect of his work, which is internal management. He has challenged or outright criticized Legislators and senior staff when questioned on budgets, finances, policies, procurement, or other internal functions. By ignoring the input of Legislators and staff, the Sheriff has adopted policies that aren’t in compliance with state law and best practice, executed contracts with vendors not approved by the Legislature, and generally exposed taxpayers to significant and unnecessary financial liability.
Sheriff Allard has made many troubling public statements criticizing Legislators, specifically Legislator VanEtten, and staff members such as the County Manager. These have included allegations of mismanagement, political vendettas, anti-law enforcement bias, and even personal attacks. Steuben County leaders have remained relatively silent on these issues, but it is time to clear the record with facts and data.
The County Legislature, along with its staff, plays a vital role in both supporting Sheriff Allard’s efforts to enhance public safety and appropriately challenging any questionable administrative decisions. This balance of support and accountability is essential in any government organization, and it serves the County well across its 30 other departments.
The Finance Committee request has been characterized as an attack on the department. The Steuben County Legislature and the County Manager’s office have both the operational and fiduciary responsibility to examine spending of departments, and when necessary, ask questions. These aren’t accusations or attacks; they are logical questions asked by governing bodies of any organization. In fact, multiple Legislators, including Mr. VanEtten, Chair of the Finance Committee, initially posed the question to Sheriff Allard to obtain data to examine the cost/benefit of adding another Deputy Sheriff position in the 2026 Budget.
Sheriff Allard has made professionalism the cornerstone of his office, yet unfortunately, some of his actions—including his presentation yesterday—have not reflected this core value.
The County has made significant investments in the Sheriff’s Department to enhance its capabilities and ensure the safety and effectiveness of law enforcement. This includes the upgrade of portable radios, polygraph machines, and the introduction of new drones and weapons to modernize the department’s operations. Additionally, the County has updated mobile data terminals and Lexipol software to improve data management and ensure adherence to best practices. Upgrades to the Black Creek system have further streamlined operations. In terms of personnel, the Road Patrol is staffed by 27 Deputy Sheriffs, 3 Deputy Sheriff Lieutenants, 5 Deputy Sheriff Sergeants, 6 Criminal Investigators, and 4 K9 Officers, all of whom work diligently to serve and protect the community. These investments reflect the County’s commitment to equipping its law enforcement personnel with the necessary tools and resources to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently.
The facts presented underscore the Steuben County Legislature’s commitment to supporting law enforcement while also upholding its responsibility to ensure that all department heads, including elected officials, manage their operations in accordance with policy and law. This partnership is crucial and must be free from unnecessary conflict.
