Wayne County Life

Dear Neighbors,

Our County children have returned to school, so please watch for school buses and children walking to and from school while you’re driving, and obey the school bus and crosswalk regulations.

There will be a hazardous materials, electronics and medication collection day on Sept. 24 at the Wayne County Highway Department, Rt. 31, Lyons from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. No sharps or mercury items will be accepted.

My thanks to the firefighters, emergency medical service workers, dispatchers and other law enforcement agencies for your work with the very busy August the Sheriff’s Office had – your help was very much appreciated by the victims, their families, and Sheriff’s Office members. Your local fire departments, ambulances, police, 911 Center and deputies continue to work together during emergencies, search and rescue operations and inclement weather conditions to serve you. The training and coordination between these different disciplines is very important to manage these events and to serve you better.

August was a busy month for training: Sgt. Gil Sterk and Dep. William Benedict attended the FBI Advanced Sniper/Observer Course in Olean; Sgts. Alan Graham and Tom Virts received Fire Behavior and Arson Investigation Training at NYS Fire Academy in Montour Falls; Sgt. Roger LaClair attended Forensic Extraction Device Training in Dulles, VA; and Sgts. Kevin Kuntz and Rod Gifford attended Advance Vehicle Fire Investigations training in Webster. Deputies continue to train with firearms as the office transitions to update handguns to the Smith & Wesson M&P .45 handguns.

Deputies provided 206 hours of security and services at the Walworth FD National Night out, Williamson Family Fun Day, Garlock’s Inc., Lake Bluff Antique Tractor Parade, Palmyra Pirates on the Erie Festival, Wolcott Wine and Jazz Festival, Clyde FD Carnival, Sodus Point 5K, Wayne County Fire Chiefs’ Equipment Show, Clyde Health Fair, Walgreen’s in Newark, Verizon in Macedon, American Legion Riders Sodus Point Exhibition and Wayne County Fair. Debbie Jayne issued 686 Operation Safe Child IDs at many of the festival/event sites. Debbie Jayne and Betty Rose Chardeen also assisted the NYS Sheriffs’ Association at the state fair with Operation Safe Child IDs for one day each.   

The Police Services Division was audited by an inspection team of three assessors from the NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services for re-accreditation on August 2 – 4^th. The office was in compliance and in September will be presented with the re-accreditation of the Police Services Division for five more years. Thank you to Dep. Heather Laws, Lt. Robert Milby and Chief Dep. Bob Hetzke for preparing for and overseeing the re-accreditation audit.

Sergeant Craig Schwartz and Account Clerk Debbie Youngs completed 20 years of service. I salute Sergeant Schwartz and Debbie! 

WayneNet is planning a countywide medication-collection day on Oct. 29 at several sites around the county. More information will be provided at a later date through WayneNet and the Wayne County Police Chiefs’ Association.

In July, 219 males and 37 females (256 total) were committed to the jail facility, 188 court transports, 13,226 inmate meals were served and $42,540 was collected from 43 inmates released on bail and/or fines. Inmates worked a total of 1,724 hours of labor in laundry, facility cleaning and food service. Court Security Officers cleared 3,296 people entering the Hall of Justice through the magnetometer, securing 64 weapons (knives, razors, and scissors). Deputies traveled 89,963 miles on patrol, investigating 77 motor vehicle accidents, 11 missing persons, 22 animal complaints, 1,452 miscellaneous complaints, 503 minor crimes, 19 major crimes and 17 fires totaling 2,642 complaints received. Deputies issued 319 traffic tickets, 8 DWIs and made 108 criminal arrests. The Marine Patrol handled 97 complaints, inspected 34 vessels, issued 24 navigation summons, gave 3 violation warnings and assisted 21 disabled boats. The Records Office processed 25 pistol permit applications and 42 pistol permit amendments requiring a Brady Check. The Civil Office served 221 legal papers and 101 Family Court orders, handled 11 evictions, received $106,696.94 and paid out $104,835.72 to creditors. $14,830.28 was remitted to Wayne County Treasurer Thomas Warnick for the county’s General Fund.

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

Sincerely,

              Sheriff