Accountability

Created our first Professional Standards Division within the Sheriff's Office.
Obtained law enforcement accreditation through NYS DCJS for the first time in TCSO history by creating policies and procedures that meet 111 standards based on best practices in operational efficiency, training, accountability, and professionalism. We are the only law enforcement agency in Tompkins County to have achieved this.
Inclusion of policies above and beyond accreditation standards to include Duty to Intervene, Equitable Policing, Interactions with Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming Persons, and Responding to Incidents Involving Emotionally Disturbed Persons.
Online publication of our policies, complaint procedures in 11 different languages, and a first-ever Transparency Hub.
Ability for the community to provide input and suggestions on office policies.
More stringent hiring practices and pre-employment background investigations, to include polygraph exams and psychological testing.
Revamped Field Training programs for new hires.
Creation of a drug-testing program for deputy sheriffs and corrections officers.
Expansion of our body-cam program to include in-car recording, utilization within the jail, and regular multi-level review of our interactions.

Operational Efficiency

Created satellite offices in the Towns of Newfield and Enfield to provide quicker response times and increased community-oriented policing opportunities.
When the City of Ithaca did not have staffing to handle increased gun violence, my office obtained a $380,000 Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) grant and created a task force to combat the problem.
Obtained external funding for our UTV, drones, and boat to improve response capabilities and search & rescue efforts.
Created our first county-wide Centralized Arraignment Program (CAP), returning law enforcement resources more quickly to patrol duties for all county and village police departments.
Established a Civilian Response Unit to triage non-emergency police calls, freeing up crucial law enforcement resources for more urgent calls.
Created the first Crisis Alternative Response & Engagement (CARE) team partnering an experienced deputy sheriff and a mental health clinician for better response to those in crisis.
Obtained two K9 units geared towards bomb detection, drug interdiction, and search capabilities.
Instituted Special Patrol Officer positions for inmate transports & security details, freeing up law enforcement and jail staff.
Creation of SHIELD (Stopping Hate, Interrupt Extremism, Link Disciplines) domestic terrorism task force.
Aiming to bring Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program to Tompkins County in 2025.

Since I have been Sheriff, we have never been over budget.
We have significantly decreased overtime, utilizing the savings to add staffing and enhance our operations.
In 2019, we managed to save $125,980 and return it to the County's General Fund.
To assist with the County's COVID-19 response, we handled all COVID related calls (to include the City of Ithaca), while re-allocating $200,782 from our budget for further assistance to the County.
In 2021, TCSO staffing was severely impacted by a county hiring freeze, COVID isolation requirements, and anti-police sentiment, yet we still came in under budget.
Obtained grant funding as much as possible to lessen the burden on tax-payers.

Created first agency bike patrol program to better connect deputies with our community.
Participate annually in sending disadvantaged youth to NYS Sheriff's Summer Camp.
Annual Holiday stocking and Easter Basket programs for homeless children housed through DSS.
Changed our patrol fleet to remove ghost-lettering and blacked-out appearance to be more visible and engaging.
Implemented less military-like uniforms and equipment.
Continually attend and engage in numerous community events.
Began creating & issuing Annual Reports highlighting TCSO goals & objectives, programs, initiatives, staff, programs, and training.

Our agency completed the One Mind Pledge, that required that all deputies receive training in Mental Health First Aid, and another 20% to complete the more intensive Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training.
Fair & Impartial Policing.
Crisis Response: De-Escalation Skills for Law Enforcement.
Conflict Management for Law Enforcement Professionals.
Effectively Responding to Emotional Crisis.
Transgender Mindfulness & Equity.
Disability Awareness.
National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers (NABLEO).
Verbal Judo de-escalation training.
Critical Incident Response/Reimagine Crisis.
Mental Health First Aid.
Preventing Targeted Violence.
Supervisor Liability.

Achieved Corrections re-accreditation through the NYS Sheriff's Association.
Renegotiated Inmate Phone Rates to make calls more affordable for family members.
Instituted an iPad program for inmates with access to educational opportunities.
Began a new cleaning certification program for inmates to aid in future employment.
Started an officer body-cam program inside the facility.
Expanded the jail garden program.
Came up with innovative ways to keep the jail fully staffed, while all others suffer.
Coordinated go-bags and the soft hand-off to medical providers for inmates leaving the facility.
Introduced a certified therapy dog to the jail.