October 6, 2026
It’s a beautiful day in Steuben County! It is officially fall, and the hills are becoming gorgeous with color! As we start to experience cooler nights and shorter days, please keep in mind that the deer are on the move, and where you see one deer on the roadway, slow down and look for the second or third one you don’t see! Our farmers are working into dusk to get in corn and other crops, so please be attentive to large slow-moving equipment on the roads and have patience in choosing an appropriate time to pass.
Last Sunday we assisted with the annual Wineglass Marathon. This fantastic event brings millions of dollars to our county and displays the beauty of our county to runners and their families from all fifty states as well as internationally. We are proud to be partners with the Wineglass Marathon to provide public safety services throughout the event.
It has been a busy start to autumn at the Sheriff’s Office. On September 4th, we held the first annual Open House at the Sheriff’s Office. Our K9 division conducted exhibitions of searching, tracking and personal defense. Our Criminal Investigations Division exhibited drone tracking and a portable command post. Our Corrections Division exhibited tactical gear and tools for effective jail management. Each Division had displays, answered questions and the event culminated with a tour of our facility. It was well attended and received by the public. Great job to all our Commanders who made it happen! On September 11th our Office participated in 911 ceremonies at both Erwin and Hornell. On the weekend of September 18th, we teamed up with the NYS Sheriff’s Institute, NYS Department of Homeland Security and NYS Mental Health Association to deliver a three-day wellness retreat at the NYS Sheriff’s Institute Summer Camp on Keuka Lake. Twenty-five participants spent the weekend practicing Jiu-Jitsu and receiving classes on Trauma Management, Creating Work/Home Boundaries, Effective Stretching, and participated in Yoga and received chair massages. A big THANK YOU to Licia at Keuka Peaceful Roots, Dr. Lane Griffith and Wendy Allard for your contributions!
September saw the retirement of Corrections Officer Scott Rodbourn and Jail Cleaner Jane Bembower. We wish them both the best in their next chapter of life! On September 23 the CERT team performed a multi-agency contraband search at the Steuben County Jail.
Participating agencies included: Steuben County Sheriff’s Office, St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Allegany County Sheriff’s Office, Yates County Sheriff’s Office and NYS Dept. of Corrections K9 Team. Major Sutton and Captain Mills attended the NYS Sheriff’s Association Jail Administrator’s Conference, Captain Mills and Lieutenant Wetherby attended the FBI Great Lakes Leadership Seminar. Sergeant Ames and Officer Jeremy Smith completed the NYS DCJS Jail Time Credit and Calculation course and
Officers Deebs and Orcutt completed the NYS DCJS Basic Investigative Photography course.
Officers Deebs, Gilman, Orcutt and Teeter completed the NYS DCJS Basic Evidence Technician course. Officers Derby, Marvin, and Pruden completed the ALERRT I and II courses with Officer Eighmey being one of the instructors. Deputies Donahue, Hurd and N. Warriner completed GTSC ARIDE training, Investigator Day completed the NYSP Undercover Investigations Course, Investigator Dininny taught at the NYS Marine Law Enforcement Course and Lieutenants Sorge, Kennedy and Lock attended the Sheriff’s Association Law Enforcement Supervisor Conference.
Sergeant Hawk instructed at both the Basic Investigative Photography Course and the Evidence Collection Course. Sheriff Allard was honored to be a presenter at the Hornell 911 Ceremony and presented on both “Frankly Speaking” and WLEA “The Pulse”
We pray for all first responders and our military, who protect us at home and abroad, every day. Thank you for supporting the Steuben County Sheriff’s Office in these trying times!
Sheriff Jim Allard
