Email to the Editor: To my fellow Livingston County Citizens, I would like to take an opportunity to tell you why I support Thomas Dougherty for Sheriff. As many of you know, I am employed at the Sheriff’s Office. I am really not a political person, until this election the most involved in any politics I have been is to vote for President, and that didn’t go my way! My job does not require me to work with Investigator Dougherty directly or indirectly, it does however, require day-to-day interaction with the Undersheriff, and since his appointment as Undersheriff on December 30, 2010, that would be Jim Szczesniak.
I know several of our road deputies personally and many of our corrections staff, and I know that our department’s morale is at an all-time low. I attribute this to knowing what it’s like to be lied to by your Chain-of-Command; to knowing what it’s like to see departmental issues being “swept under the carpet”; and coming from a small business background, I know how disheartening it is to see tax payers money being used inappropriately.
It is time for CHANGE, it is time to run an Honest Department, it is time for Transparency with our counties residents, it is time to bring our department TOGETHER by empowering our members and LEADING by example. There is no better person for that job than Thomas Dougherty, and he has the overwhelming majority support of our departments full-time employees, as well as several of our town and/or village police agencies. Tom has the Experience that is being talked about in this election, he goes above and beyond in his quest to keep our county and its residents safe, leading our department in criminal arrests in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010, Tom alone had over 100 drug related arrests. In 2011, as Investigator, he led our CID (Criminal Investigation Division) in arrests. Tom’s efforts and his enthusiasm make it clear that he wants and can provide a safe county for all of us live in.
Tom attended more than 510 hours of training when he took his Police Academy, 79% more training time than what was required by Jim Szczesniak when he completed his Academy. Tom has also tested (under the NYS Civil Service Law you must be in the top three on the graded list to be reachable for an open position) for every position he has held with our department, obtaining a perfect score when he took the Investigator Civil Service Exam. Because Jim Szczesniak was employed before the Civil Service Exam requirement he did not test for his positions in Corrections or Road Patrol, and the Major positions he held were appointed – not testable.
With the Safe-Act being foremost on many minds, it is important for you to know that Tom fully supports our second amendment rights and is in favor of the legislation introduced in the Assembly to repeal the Safe Act.
For those that have not read Tom’s letter to the Livingston County Residents, I share with you some quotes from this upstanding and class-act individual:
“I’m running for Sheriff, because I believe we can create a safer community without compromising fundamental values. I am an experienced cop in my 9th year with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department and an educated businessman in my 10th year with a multi-million dollar transportation company. I am proud to have earned my Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Geneseo in Business Administration. My experience in law enforcement and business qualifies me to effectively and efficiently lead the Sheriff’s Department.
My leadership will be transparent, so that anyone can easily see how the Sheriff’s Department spends taxpayer’s dollars, conducts business, or reviews employees for advancement. My team will be tough on crime, especially illegal drugs – the root cause of many crimes.
I am asking for your vote on November 5th. Together, we will create a safer Livingston County that operates more efficiently and serves ALL the people.”
I am proud to support Thomas Dougherty for Sheriff and I ask for your support too. Please vote on November 5th for Dougherty for Sheriff, the much needed honest and fresh perspective to the position of Sheriff for Livingston County.
Thank you for your time.
Dawn Hamsher
Dansville