Several months ago, I visited the jail complex for the first
time, and I was very impressed with everything I saw. Not only was the facility spotless and
obviously well administered, every single employee I encountered was extremely
knowledgeable, professional, personable, and clearly proud of the work they
do. Each one was eager to explain
their personal responsibilities and the procedures they follow to maintain such
a complicated and diverse facility. I
left there with a great sense of pride that Allegany County has such a
well-run, professionally-staffed facility.
This can only occur as the result of our sheriff’s experience and strong
leadership and management skills, as it comes from the top down. Clearly, Sheriff Whitney’s peers in the New York State
Sheriff’s Association recognize these qualities in him, as he was recently
elected to the office of Sergeant at Arms in their association and will ascend
to the presidency after completing that office. Under Whitney, his department has had outstanding inspection
results, fiscal responsibility, and zero union grievances, all indicative of
Sheriff Whitney’s professional administration and personal integrity.
Sheriff Whitney’s critics keep mentioning exorbitant overtime, with the implication that the sheriff is responsible. But the bulk of overtime results from transporting federal prisoners, and it is 100% reimbursed by the Federal Corrections Department. Budget figures indicate that administrative overtime figures have actually gone down each year he has been sheriff.
Sheriff Whitney’s critics keep mentioning exorbitant overtime, with the implication that the sheriff is responsible. But the bulk of overtime results from transporting federal prisoners, and it is 100% reimbursed by the Federal Corrections Department. Budget figures indicate that administrative overtime figures have actually gone down each year he has been sheriff.
I do not doubt that Sheriff Whitney’s opponent was very good
at the job from which he retired, and I thank him for his service. However, as I understand it, the main functions
of the sheriff’s job are corrections, jail administration, 911 dispatch center,
and the civil process, none of which he lists as experience. Why would we want to hire a new sheriff who
requires “on the job training”?
Allegany County’s current sheriff is a qualified,
experienced leader with proven success, a dedicated professional, a career law
enforcement officer efficiently performing his job, with 43 years in law
enforcement, 35 years in its administration. I agree with another Whitney
supporter: “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”
Norma M. Bartlett
Wellsville
