Pictured from left are Yates County Sheriff Ronald Spike, Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn, Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha, Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley and Madison County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Jon Black.
Pictured from left are Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O’Flynn, Madison County Captain Eric Ali, Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha, Madison County Sheriff Allen Riley, Yates County Sheriff Ronald Spike and Madison County Undersheriff John Ball.
(Wampsville, NY – Feb. 2014) The Madison County Sheriff’s Office was recently recognized with two prestigious and highly competitive awards. The selection was made by the New York State Sheriff’s Association Institute upon reviewing several nominations from sheriff’s offices throughout the state.
Awards were presented during the NYSSA winter conference in Albany Feb. 17. Correction Sergeant Jon Black, a seven-and-a-half-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, received the Correction Officer of the Year Award. Black is the evening shift supervisor at the Madison County Correction Facility.
His standing duties include supervision of uniformed and civilian staff assigned to the Correction Division, overall supervision of the inmate population, daily facility sanitation, DNA database management, oversight of inmate programs, inmate property program supervisor, coordination and delivery of inmate orientation, oversight of the intermittent inmate program and inmate trust fund operations.
Black has a military background, experience in correction operations and supervision and technology, and an ability to interact with staff, inmates, and the general public and software vendors and is able to make spot decisions accurately and with confidence.
“Through Sergeant Black’s actions, demeanor, confidence and attitude, the safety of our staff, facility, all who work in and reside at or visit this facility is foremost in any decision process that he uses in commanding jail operations,” said Sheriff Allen Riley. “Sergeant Black’s efforts continually exhibit an exceptional degree of dedication and commitment to the professional fulfillment of the critical duties of this Office in the operation of this jail. He is a true professional in every sense of the word, and I was honored to nominate him for this recognition.”
Black was recently awarded the Sheriff’s Distinguished Service Medal at the Sheriff’s Office Awards Ceremony held earlier in February.
The Sheriff’s Office also received the award for Traffic Safety Program of the Year. This award also received nominations from sheriffs around the state. The award was presented to Sheriff Allen Riley and the men and women of the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.
Since taking office in January 2010, Riley has strengthened traffic safety countywide, which is demonstrated by the most important indicator of success, the reduction of fatal automobile crashes by one-half from 10 in 2010 to five in 2012. During this short time, the MCSO participated in the Sheriffs’ Association Rural Traffic Initiative Project and was recognized by Region II of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for innovative approaches to implementing the Data Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety program.
This nationally recognized concept integrates location-based crime and traffic crash data to determine the most effective methods for deploying patrol personnel and other resources. Drawing on the deterrent value of high-visibility patrol and aggressive traffic law enforcement, the goal of the project is to reduce crime, crashes and violations across the county.
To assist in this project and other traffic-related issues in Madison County, the Sheriff’s Office utilizes the expertise of Traffic Safety Coordinator Robert Young. Young collects, enters and analyzes motor vehicle crashes investigated by the Sheriff’s Office and the New York State Police within the county. This information is used to determine locations that have the highest frequency of crashes.
Using that information as its foundation, patrols are made aware of areas that are in need of additional enforcement activities. In support of DDACTS, computer-aided techniques also locate and map crime incidents and identifies “hotspots” – areas of high crash and crime activity. These maps and related narratives are provided to law enforcement agencies in Madison County through weekly crime bulletins distributed by the Sheriff’s Office.
Young also works with a number of county agencies to coordinate traffic safety efforts to heighten public awareness of all traffic safety concerns. In addition, Young, in conjunction with deputies, manages the Sheriff’s Top 10 list and has since its inception in early 2013.
Throughout 2013, a total of 22 individuals were apprehended or located as a result of this list, published monthly. During his tenure, Riley has implemented the S.T.O.P.P.E.D. and Yellow Dot programs and has assumed responsibility for the county’s STOP-DWI program. In this regard, the Madison County Sheriffs’ Office staffs an active DWI Enforcement Unit that has steadily increased impaired driver-related arrests over the past three years (2010-2013).
As a result of these integrated programs, the Madison Sheriff’s Office was awarded the Traffic Safety Program of the Year.
“It was with great pleasure and pride that these awards were conveyed to this Office,” Riley said. “As I have stated on a number of occasions, as Sheriff, I am surrounded by a staff of true professionals who perform their duties in a superb manner daily. I could not be prouder of these accomplishments.”