New York State Sheriffs Advocate For Police Officer Safety

On Tuesday, April 24, 2024, according to the New York State Sheriff's Association Facebook page, Delaware County Sheriff Craig Dumond held a news conference as President of the New York State Sheriffs' Association, to speak about the recent trend in the Empire State of violence against police officers.

Joined by sheriffs from across New York State, Dumond issued a call for lawmakers to prioritize the safety of law enforcement officers and an end to this type of violence. He spoke about recent violence against police officers who have been killed or injured.

Sheriff Dumond referred to four officers who have lost their lives - Lieutenant Michael Hoosock of the Onondaga County Sheriff's Office, Officer Michael Jensen of the Syracuse Police Department, Officer Jonathan Diller of the New York City Police Department, and Sergeant Thomas Sanfratello of the Genesee County Sheriff's Office - Batavia.

He also spoke about a recent ambush attack on Albany Police Department Jonathan Damphier, who remains hospitalized after being shot just a mile from the State Capitol, and Investigator Mike Theetge of the Chemung County Sheriff's Office, who is hospitalized with serious injuries sustained in the line of duty.

End the open season on law enforcement. Our communities deserve nothing less. These officers were heroes, dedicated to safeguarding our communities. To restore balance to our approach to criminal justice, we must empower judges to assess dangerousness and make informed decisions on bail eligibility. We need the Legislature to stand with us. It's time to take action to protect those who protect us. - Delaware County Sheriff/President of the New York State Sheriffs' Association - Craig Dumond

Sheriff Dumond has called for urgent legislative action, including mandatory life without parole for those convicted of killing police officers intentionally, and voiced support for measures to deny release for individuals convicted of gun crimes and urged lawmakers to revisit bail statutes and the age of criminal responsibility.

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New York State lawmakers will reconvene on May 6th, and Sheriff Dumond stressed the importance for citizens to voice their support for measures to protect law enforcement officers, by reaching out to their representatives and emphasizing the importance of prioritizing public safety.

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