Wayne County Life

Dear Neighbors,

   April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, and Child Abuse Prevention Month. Sexual assault and child abuse are very complex, leaving victims and their families everlasting emotional anxieties. 

   We all need to be aware of, and to assist in, the prevention of sexual violence and child abuse. April 22 - 28 is set aside as Crime Victims’ Rights Week to bring recognition to this community issue, and to honor and help victims restore their lives. The New York State Sheriffs’ Victim Hotline (or VINE) is a free confidential service that notifies those that register by phone and email when an offender is released from jail or prison. Contact VINE at 1.888.VINE-4-NY or go to www.vinelink.com for more information. You have a right to know. 

   Wayne County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Hoffman and District Attorney Richard Healy have joined me in signing proclamations that address Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention, Child Abuse Prevention,  and Victims’ Rights Week, and will be presented at the April 17 Board of Supervisors meeting.

   On April 28, Wayne-NET (Wayne Narcotic Enforcement Team) and the Drug Enforcement Administration will provide another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding your home of potentially dangerous, expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends from household medicine cabinets. The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

   This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.  Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. 

   The 2011 Sheriff’s Office Annual Report is available online at www.waynecosheriff.org, through your town supervisor and later this month will be available at all the public libraries in the county for your review.

   In February 2012, 80 males and 19 females (99 total) were committed to the jail facility, 86 court transports, 9,559 inmate meals were served and $45,205 was collected from 42 inmates released on bail and/or fines. Inmates worked a total of 1,845 hours of labor in laundry, facility cleaning and food service. Court Security Officers cleared 2,986 people entering the Hall of Justice through the magnetometer, securing 95 weapons (knives, razors, and scissors). Deputies traveled 89,156 miles on patrol, investigating 123 motor vehicle accidents, 3 missing persons, 18 animal complaints, 2,047 miscellaneous complaints, 354 minor crimes, 13 major crimes and 12 fires totaling 2,570 complaints received. Deputies issued 245 traffic tickets, 6 DWIs and made 137 misdemeanor and felony arrests. The Records Office processed 51 pistol permit applications and 84 pistol permit amendments requiring a Brady Check. The Civil Office served 100 legal papers and 91 Family Court orders, handled 9 evictions, received $102,543.10 and paid out $101,911.89 to creditors. $12,546.92 was remitted to Wayne County Treasurer Thomas Warnick for the County’s General Fund.

   March Trainings; Correction Officer Amy Spino was certified as a First Aid/ CPR/AED Instructor by the American Red Cross of Ithaca, NY; Deputy Rick Halvorsen attended a training at the University of Buffalo on Bullying; Sergeant Joe Croft and Deputy George Lorenz traveled to Shallow Creek Kennels, Sharpsville, PA for a K9 replacement. I attended trainings on Domestic Terrorism in Watkins Glen and the Effectiveness of NYS Sex Offender Management Policies at Genesee Community College in Batavia. Deputies, correction officers, court security officers and local police received training on First Aid, CPR, AED, Suicide Prevention, Jail Time Sentencing Calculation and Inmate Medication Dispensing.   

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

Sincerely,

Sheriff