Wayne County Life

Dear Neighbors,

On January 1, 2011 the “Ambrose-Searles Move Over Act” takes effect. This law requires motorists to change lanes and/or slow down and take care in approaching and passing a stopped emergency vehicle (police, fire and ambulance) or risk getting a ticket. Please abide by this law giving our law enforcement and emergency workers the safe working room they need on our roadways.      

Starting on January 18, 2011 the Sheriff’s Civil and Records Offices will maintain business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. This change is to ready our operations to be consistent with all the other county offices that will be working out of the new Public Safety Building later this spring.

In December, deputies conducted child car seat inspections at the Ontario and Lincoln Fire Departments. inspecting 25 seats and replacing 15. Through Operation Safe Child, 250 ID cards were issued to students at the Wayne Central Primary School, and Wayne Central Driver Education students were instructed on “What to Expect on a Traffic Stop.” In Williamson, the Whispering Woods Community was presented the Neighborhood Watch Program.  

On December 1, as a first year sheriff, I presented to the five newly elected NYS sheriffs (Essex, Allegany, Oneida, Franklin and Tompkins Counties) at the NYS Sheriffs’ Association in Albany. This is a training by the Sheriffs’ Association where several current sheriffs teach and mentor the newly elected sheriffs. I found this training to be very helpful to me last year and was honored to be a presenter this year.   

On December 10, I facilitated a meeting with Wayne County Farm Bureau President John Sorbello and Rochester and Oswego Border Patrol Chiefs Tom Pocorobba and Pstachu Kohut discussing our roles and responsibilities. I will continue to arrange these types of connections to keep everyone in a dialogue that concerns public safety.    

WayneNet – a drug taskforce of the Clyde, Lyons, Newark, Palmyra, Macedon, Sodus, Sodus Point and Wolcott police departments, and the Sheriff’s Office – had a very successful year as partners in the investigation and enforcement of drug crimes. This is a great example of how combined law enforcement resources provide increased public safety for our communities.

In November, 157 males and 35 females (192 total) were committed to the jail facility, 98 court transports and 14,772 inmate meals were served. Inmates worked a total of 1,680 hours of labor in laundry, facility cleaning and food service. Court Security Officers cleared 4,256 people entering the Hall of Justice through the magnetometer securing 144 weapons (knives, razors, and scissors). Deputies traveled 92,894 miles on patrol, investigating 156 motor vehicle accidents, 5 missing persons, 32 animal complaints, 1,487 miscellaneous complaints, 513 minor crimes, 28 major crimes and 6 fires totaling 2,227 complaints received. Deputies issued 258 traffic tickets, 9 DWIs and made 48 criminal arrests. The Records Office processed 26 pistol permit applications and 18 pistol permit amendments requiring a Brady Check. The Civil Office served 122 legal papers, handled 4 evictions, received $230,670.94 (including bail and fines) and paid out $157,770.32 to creditors. $15,405.58 was remitted to Wayne County Treasurer Thomas Warnick for the county’s General Fund.

Correction Officer Ted Salisbury retired on December 31, 2010 with 29 years of service to the Sheriff’s Office. Board of Supervisors Chairman James Hoffman and I presented Ted with a proclamation for his service at the Board of Supervisors meeting on December 21. I personally wish Ted a healthy, happy and long retirement.

Please contact me at 315.946.5797 or bvirts@co.wayne.ny.us with any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,