Read the interview and Cicirello’s Sheriff’s Week speech
By Andrew Harris, pictured is Allegany County Sheriff Scott Cicirello
Q- Sheriff your first term is coming to an end this year and your re-election is unopposed. What are some of the accomplishments of your team that you’d like to brag a bit about ?
I was very fortunate to inherit a well-run and fiscally responsible office from Sheriff Whitney. Our focus has been on evolving as a LE agency. Since I started, we have created a NYS recognized Wellness Program, a Peer Support Team, expanded our Drone program, established social media accounts for community engagement, created a multi-office DSS Fraud Unit, created the Allegany Threat Assessment Group (ATAG), implemented an Officer Body Worn Camera program, created an annual awards program for our employees, expanded Marine Patrols on Rushford and Cuba Lakes, our 911 Center became an accredited office through NYS, expanded our grant programs that now manage over $16 million dollars that is used to offset costs to our taxpayers, developed a Sheriff’s App to get information to the public, established a county-wide incident reporting and records management system for LE at no cost to the agencies that use it, expanded specialized targeted patrols to areas of the county that need it and most importantly, my staff working with County HR have been able to bring us to full staffing for the first time since before Covid. That is the biggest accomplishment, especially during a time when it has been very difficult to hire ANYONE in law enforcement roles. There are more, but those are the highlights.
Q- You’ve been a law enforcement officer for decades now and you were raised by the late great Wellsville Chief of Police James Cicirello. Let’s talk about dad for a minute and how he influenced you to aspire to leadership roles ?
My father(pictured) has always been my idol. From a very young age, I saw him as a police officer and a first responder who was deeply engaged with the community. I became a junior member of the Allegany County Office of Emergency Services Rescue Squad when I was 10 years old. I began responding to calls with him and watched how he conducted himself as the Rescue Chief. I watched him save lives. As a police officer, I watched him respond to countless critical incidents. I saw that he not only made an impact in the community, he actually made a difference. I realized at a very young age, that was exactly what I wanted to do. And that’s where my dedication to service began. In 2004, I was appointed the Chief of Police in Alfred and we became (at the time) the only active father/son Police Chief’s in NY. That was a proud moment for both of us.
Q- The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office is stacked with talent and you’ve got veterans at your side in Undersheriff Walt Mackney, Lieutenant Tim Hand, Major Chris Ivers, Lieutenant Matt Graves, and First Sgt Eric Smith. Remind our readers what key roles these guys play, ones that largely go unseen by the public ?
Our success as an organization is directly attributed to my staff. I cannot take the credit as my team does all the heavy lifting and execution of our programs. The Undersheriff Mackney serves in several roles, but his background as a Master Instructor has been invaluable. He directs and conducts training throughout the entire region. Major Chris Ivers is the best jail administrator in NY. We routinely receive praise from the State regarding our jail operations, all due to his leadership. Lt. Tim Hand oversees ATAG, Court Security and Law Enforcement Operations. He does the work of three supervisors. Lt. Matt Graves oversees the 911 Center and Civil Operations. His role was critical in overseeing our recent accreditation of the 911 center. Lt. Plaisted is our Asst. Jail Administrator and oversees jail operations. F/Sgt. Eric Smith is our training coordinator and oversees hiring. His hard work and dedication is the main reason we are now fully staffed. I could go on about my Team but I am truly blessed to have these officers in my administration. Read our full coverage of the ATAG team from 2024 below:
Q- What’s in the forecast for 2027-2028? What do you want to see happen in the beginning of that second term ?
I have deep engagement with communities throughout Allegany County. I often speak at churches, civic organizations, town halls, board meetings…and the one consistent message from our residents is that we have a drug problem and we aren’t doing enough to address it. It is not just the drug epidemic, it is the crime that comes with it. Looking at the data from reported incidents in Allegany County since 2020, we have had over 217 drug overdoses and 41 deaths directly related to illegal drugs. Narcan was administered 164 times in the field. That should be alarming to all of us. The New York State Police VGNET (Violent Crime and Narcotics Enforcement Team) do respond to drug complaints in Allegany County. BCI Captain Dan Howard and I communicate regularly. He has made it a priority to have more of a regular presence in Allegany County. We have had communication with every law enforcement agency in Allegany County who have all expressed support at the creation of a narcotics unit. (the above stats come from 911 Center data)
We have two choices. We can do nothing and let drugs continue to ravage this County. Or we can make a concerted effort to mitigate this problem though enforcement, investigations, arrests, rehabilitation and education.
Crime in Allegany County continues to be a serious issue. There are still a lack of consequences for criminals as bail reform legislation has remained unchanged. We see repeat offenders on a daily basis and we see law enforcement stretched very thin trying to keep up with the increase in crime. Our County law enforcement agencies are doing the best they can with the resources available. I don’t see any immediate remedies without changes to the bail reform legislation.
The ACSO will continue to be proactive in dealing with the issues that directly affect public safety. We will continue our strong community partnerships and community engagement to be responsive to issues that our important to our citizens. The ACSO will continue delivering a high level of service in an efficient, professional and cost-effective manner while maintaining a focus on integrity and accountability.
It has been the greatest honor of my professional career to serve as your Sheriff. I look forward to continuing in this role for the next four years.
Sheriff Cicirello’s recent speech in full:
I join my fellow Sheriffs from across New York this week in the annual observance of Sheriffs’ Week. Each year, the third week of September is designated as a time to celebrate the long and unique history of the Office of Sheriff in New York State and to highlight the many vital services provided year-round by Sheriffs’ Deputies, Corrections Officers, Emergency Services Dispatchers and civilian staff in modern-day Sheriff’s Offices.
The Office of Sheriff is the oldest local elected office in New York, dating back to colonial times. It was guaranteed to the people by New York’s first Constitution and has been preserved in every Constitution since. The Sheriff remains the only law enforcement officer elected directly by the people and accountable directly to the people. The Office of the Allegany County Sheriff was established in 1806, when the county was created, and has proudly served our citizens ever since.
While many of the functions, powers, and duties of the Sheriff have evolved over time, the historic role of the Sheriff as conservator of the peace within the county has remained constant. Today, the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for a wide range of duties, including jail operations, civil process, court security, building security, 911 communications, pistol permit administration, and law enforcement services throughout the county.
The top priority of the Sheriff’s Office is public safety through the delivery of essential services. Our focus will always be the safety and security of our residents. We are fortunate to have strong community partnerships built through engagement, outreach, and collaboration. We are equally committed to keeping the public informed by providing timely information through a variety of channels, including social media and the Sheriff’s App.
In addition to our community partnerships, we maintain strong working relationships with our local police agencies, the New York State Police, and our federal law enforcement partners. These relationships are critical to our success and essential to providing the highest level of public safety for the citizens we serve.
Our profession is not without challenges. One of the most significant challenges facing law enforcement in New York today continues to be bail reform. We ask our officers and deputy sheriffs to enforce the law and make arrests, yet in many cases those arrested are quickly released back into the community. Too often, individuals are re-arrested and released again, creating a cycle that undermines accountability and public confidence in the justice system. This remains a significant concern for law enforcement agencies across the state.
Finally, I would like to commend the men and women of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office for their professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving our community. The foundation of our success as an agency is rooted in their hard work, integrity, and service. I am proud of every member of our organization and grateful for all they do on behalf of the citizens of Allegany County.
