Deputies to provide security at July Alma Town Board meeting

Allegany County Sheriff Rick Whitney confirmed this afternoon that he will dispatch deputies to attend the July meeting of the Alma town board. "It's just a service we provide...if someone feels they need us there...we try to do it if we can," the Sheriff said. Whitney acknowledged that he received a formal request to have deputies at the July 2nd meeting. Town officials have said in previous interviews that citizens became unruly. Sheriff Whitney said he would likely send civil division deputies to the meeting who are already "on the clock." The sheriff said there would be no overtime. The Alma town meetings have been lively in recent months. Sheriff Whitney said "people have a right to go to meetings...(but deputies are authorized) to remove someone if they are creating a problem or endangering someone." The sheriff said this is a common practice and not limited to Alma.