New threat assessment management team seeks to create a public “safety net”
By Andrew Harris
The Allegany Sheriff’s Office invited us to sit down for a in-depth conversation about a major change in how the county addresses potential threats to public safety. Sheriff Scott Cicirello, Undersheriff Walter Mackney, and ATAG coordinator Deputy Tim Hand expanded on the presentation they recently made to the Allegany County Legislature.
The development of the ATAG team in Allegany County is a direct result of the mass shooting at a Buffalo NY Tops Market on May 14, 2022. After that horrorific act of domestic terrorism, investigators and analysts came to a honest conclusion: This could have been prevented if law enforcement had been made aware of warning signs. The mass killer in this instance left a long trail of interactions with many agencies preceding the shooting. Despite that, the warning signs didn’t raise a red flag, the shooter wasn’t a known threat to law enforcement.
Since that mass shooting in Buffalo, and the many mass shootings before and after that day, a major push by the federal government has been successful in forming teams like this all over the nation. The teams all have similar goals to the Allegany Threat Assessment Group stated mission:
“ATAG is a community resource which uses a mulitdisciplinary restorative approach to prevent acts of target violence that balances the safety needs of the public with the health and wellness needs of the person at risk. ATAG acts soley as an advisory group to assist in developing balanced interventions and case management strategies for presenting agencies. We do not mandate presenting agencies to implement or act on suggested interventions and case management strategies. It is important to note that the focus of ATAG is to assist the presenting agency in understanding the situation and how to best mitigate safety concerns, coordinate systems response, and share expertise from various disciplines. All members will follow their agency’s rules and regulations set forth by their agency. We will safeguard the integrity of all confidential information lawfully shared in our mission. Meeting minutes or notes will not be taken by any team member other that of the presenting agency and any shared paperwork will be returned to the presenting agency before the meeting is adjourned. As such,
1- All information discussed is considered confidential.
2- All offered suggestions, resources, or inforamtion can be utilized by the presenting agency at their discretion and shall not be deemed as a mandated strategy by ATAG.
3- Those committee members in attendance should strive to be trained and familiar with the threat assessment process as it pertains to our mission.“
Sheriff Cicirello explained the ATAG team as an effort to build a safety net in Allegany County. Deputy Hand has already made dozens of direct connections with major institutions like schools, first responders, major employers, community service groups, and local law enforcement. As Deputy Hand explained, one of the larger goals of the ATAG team is to create connections among community stakeholders. The more cross connections the team can make, the more effective the safety net becomes. Picture the ATAG team holding that net with the intention of catching something before it becomes a community nightmare.
Members of that team will be comprised of representatives from pre-identified major stakeholders. For example, The Allegany County Health Department, SUNY Alfred, Social Services Department, Andover Central Schools, UR Jones Memorial, and other key agencies will all provide the ATAG team a representative. With over a dozen key members like this on the team, the goal is to build a flexible working group of dedicated public servants and community leaders ready to address the potential threats as they arise.
Undersheriff Walter Mackney was clear to distinguish between criminal activity and potential threats. If a crime has been committed, law enforcement will investigate and make an arrest. The ATAG Team will now be available to address potential threats, with the goal of intervening before a crime is committed. Preventing serious crime, especially targeted violence, is the goal of the ATAG Team, not enforcing the law. If a crime has been committed, or is in process, contact law enforcement or call 911 in an emergency. If the potential for serious violent crime exists, then it is time to call ATAG.
While every resident of Allegany County is a stakeholder, team coordinators are still in the process of reaching out to groups that should be part of building this safety net. The more hands holding that net, the more effective the tool will be in stopping a threat and preventing a tragedy.
Anyone can reach out to ATAG Team Coordinator Deputy Tim Hand at the Allegany County Sheriff’s office, 585 268 9200, or email Timothy.hand@alleganyco.gov. The team plans to launch a robust information campaign in the coming months.
