Sheriff Deputies Deserve To Be Counted

Sheriff Michael Schiff and Undersheriff Eric Chaboty have gone above and beyond anyone’s wildest imagination in making major inroads in fighting crime and drug trafficking in Sullivan County.

What Schiff and Chaboty have accomplished in just several months is truly remarkable. Anyone just has to read the news to see all the major arrests they are responsible for.

In spite of all this, in order for them to do the job that needs to be done, they require appropriate funding and skilled manpower.

It is reprehensible how Sullivan County officials treat our Sheriffs Deputies.

It is shameful, that our county police officers are now forced to enter into binding arbitration to reach a contract with Sullivan County.

Equally alarming is that all the Democratic members of the legislature led by Chairman Chris Cunningham refuse to publicly ask the Charter Review Commission to add language in our proposed new charter mandating a Sheriff’s Patrol.

Cunningham’s excuse is that he does not want to influence the Independent Charter Review Commission by stating if he wants or does not want an addition in the Charter mentioning the Sheriff’s Patrol. That is bull.

There is nothing wrong for our elected officials to inform the Charter Review Commission that they would support such a directive in the new charter.

County treasurer Ira Cohen along with other officials testified before the commission and offered their input and advice on many issues. So why can’t our legislature speak up on such as important issue as the inclusion of a sheriff’s patrol in our charter?

As a Democrat, it is hard to believe that only the Republican members of our legislature, Leni Binder, Jodi Goodman, and Rodney Gaebel put their support of the Sheriff’s Patrol in writing. Partisan politics does not belong anywhere when it comes to our safety. There must be one united voice.

As it stands now, the Sheriff’s Patrol can be dismantled by the County at any time because it is not mandated by the charter. Our legislature can say there are no monies for its continuation, and take it away.

This alarming prospect would be catastrophic and should outrage every resident in Sullivan County.

It is appalling that our County will be spending thousands of dollars in legal expenses to reach a contract with the patrol. There is no reason why an expensive Albany firm is needed to negotiate the pact which is now at an impasse.

Cunningham says he is grateful to the Sheriff’s Deputies for their “brave” service to our county. If that is the case, then he should take a leadership role as Chairman of our legislature and work out an agreement with them.

We do not need outsiders doing the job - Cunningham is quite capable to do it for us along with our County Attorney Sam Yasgur.

In order for Schiff and Chaboty to do the proper job in protecting us and clean up Sullivan County from crime and drugs they need dedicated well trained experienced police officers.

Sadly - It appears as if the County is doing everything possible to put a halt to what they are accomplishing. Our Sheriff Deputies are so underpaid they are eager to find employment elsewhere. This hurts all of us.

Here are the facts: Sullivan County Deputy Sheriffs are paid twenty thousand dollars less than surrounding Police Departments and fifty thousand less than the New York State Police. They are even required to pay three percent of their salary into a retirement fund. Other Sullivan County Police Departments do not.

These heroic people are the only county employees without optical and dental coverage, and no medical insurance upon retirement. Even our part-time legislature, county clerks, and janitors receive these benefits.

What is more shocking is the fact that it costs Sullivan County taxpayers $30,000 to recruit, hire, equip and train just one deputy. Once other police positions open up elsewhere, these officers usually leave to accept better paying positions with other police departments.

That’s right - Sullivan County taxpayers pay $30,000 per officer, only to lose them to other police forces.

It is time that our elected officials put petty politics aside and deal with the issues confronting the Sheriffs Deputies. Our safety and well-being should be their main priority.

Email Bill