Erie County, New York Sheriff's Office

The Erie County Sheriff's Office is Erie County's oldest law enforcement agency.

The Office of the Sheriff is the oldest office under the system of common law in the United States and is an integral part of government in the State of New York.

As the oldest constitutional law enforcement officer of the county, the Sheriff is charged with maintaining the peace in all municipalities, villages, and towns within his jurisdiction and the care and custody of persons pending court action. The Sheriff also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Courts.

The powers and the duties of the Sheriff are embodied in the constitution of each state and, as such, the Sheriff of Erie County heads the largest Sheriff's Office in New York State and the fourteenth largest in the nation. [Erie County Sheriff's Office history page http://www.erie.gov/sheriff/history.asp]

History

On February 4, 1821, John G. Camp was appointed as the first Sheriff of the district, which at that time encompassed both Erie and Niagara County. After the district of Erie County was established, Camp remained in office as the Sheriff of Erie County until December 31, 1822.

United States President Grover Cleveland began his political career as Sheriff of Erie County in 1871. He went on to become Mayor of the City of Buffalo, Governor of the State of New York and President.

The Erie County Sheriff is, as most of more than 3,000 sheriffs in the United States, an elected official. He is elected to a term of office for four years, must devote full time to his duties, and may not hold any other public office.

The men and women, within the various divisions of the sheriff's Office, provide a wide range of services to the County's residents. In addition to convert|1058|mi2|km2 of land area, Erie County has convert|90|mi|km of shoreline, the waters of which also come under the jurisdiction of the Office.

Police services division

Uniformed law enforcement officers in the distinctive red & white patrol vehicles represent the most visible Division, the Police Services Division.

The Police Services Division is charged with law enforcement duties, traffic enforcement, crime prevention and service to the citizens of Erie County. The Police Services Division is headquartered in Chestnut Ridge Park at 1 Sheriff's Dr., Orchard Park, New York 14127. The Sheriff's Office maintains substations in the towns of Grand Island, Clarence, Alden, Elma, Colden, Sardinia and Collins, along with the Villages of Springville and North Collins.

This deployment of personnel ensures rapid response to the needs and concerns of the citizens of Erie County, which encompasses convert|1058|mi2|km2. In addition to the familiar red and white patrols of the county, many unique services are provided, some of which are outlined below. [Erie County Sheriff's Office police services page http://www.erie.gov/sheriff/police_serv_division.asp]

Civil division

The Erie County Sheriff's Civil Division was the first Civil Division certified as "Professionally Accredited" in New York State. The Civil Process Division is a state mandated service provided by all Sheriff's Offices throughout New York State.

Its purpose and function is to serve and execute the various legal processes issued by and for the several non-criminal courts of New York State and for jurisdictions of other states and countries throughout the world.

The Civil Division is the enforcement vehicle for all courts, including small claims, city, county, state and federal jurisdictions. [Erie County Sheriff's Office civil page http://www.erie.gov/sheriff/civil_division.asp]

Correction facilities

The Erie County Holding Center in the City of Buffalo began as a jail "plainly built of Graystone" in 1877. It was built to house individuals awaiting trial and those convicted on minor charges. At that time, the facility housed about 30 prisoners.

The original building was demolished in 1937 to allow the construction of a new jail designed to house 156 inmates. The new jail, boasted as the most modern in the country, was opened in 1938. This building constitutes the nucleus of today's building. [Erie County Sheriff's Office history page http://www.erie.gov/sheriff/history.asp]

The Erie County Holding Center is a pre-trial, maximum security, detention facility. It is the second largest detention facility in the State of New York, outside of New York City. The Erie County Holding Center is capable of housing 680 inmates remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Erie County. The facility is a combination of "New Generation Jail" pods and open bay construction and the traditional linear type cells. Over-flow inmates are housed at the Holding Center Annex at the Erie County Correctional Facility.

The Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden, New York is a medium security facility which presently can hold 1070 inmates of various classifications. The facility is a combination of "New Generation Jail" pods and open bay construction. This style facility has been found to be safer for both staff and inmates.

The facility maintains several programs to enhance rehabilitation. There is a full-time school program maintained by the Alden School District, which assists inmates in attaining an education, which will assist them after release.

The Erie County Correctional Facility also serves as a "safety valve" for the Erie County Holding Center, when that facility reaches capacity. The facility also holds parole violators for the State of New York prior to final hearings for re-incarceration in state facilities. [Erie County Sheriff's Office jail Management page http://www.erie.gov/sheriff/jail_manage_division.asp]

Court division

The Erie County Sheriff's Office Court Division's primary responsibility is to provide for the safety, security, order and dignity in the courts and courthouses.

Erie County Sheriff's Office Court Division personnel also provide physical security of the buildings which house those courts. This includes the screening of all individuals entering the courthouses and the operation of magnetometers and metal detectors at all entrances.

Erie County Sheriff's Office Court Division personnel provide security escorts for defendants from the Erie County Holding Center to the various courts for legal proceedings. [Erie County Sheriff's Office court division page http://www.erie.gov/sheriff/court_division.asp]

Accreditation

In 1986, the Sheriff's Office was accredited by the New York State Sheriff's Association and, in 1990, became one of the first police agencies in Western New York to be certified by the State of New York as an Accredited Law Enforcement Agency. [Erie County Sheriff's Office histoy page http://www.erie.gov/sheriff/history.asp]

Fallen Officers

Since the establishment of the Erie County Sheriff Office, 4 officers have died in the line of duty. [Officer Down Memorial Page http://www.odmp.org/agency/1180-erie-county-sheriffs-department-new-york]

ee also

List of law enforcement agencies in New York

References