October 4, 2023
BATH, NY – Steuben Supreme Court Judge Jason Cook has issued a temporary stay of the orders/resolutions which the county legislature passed, regarding Sheriff Jim Allard. The county legislature recently voted to repeal the local law which required the county to pay for the sheriff’s legal defense. The county legislature also ordered the sheriff to pay for his own, multi-million dollar, liability insurance. So now the county’s resolutions, by the judge’s order are now null and void for the moment, and the resolutions will be examined by the judge again, on November 9.
Also connected to this case, the Steuben County Deputies Union put out a statement about the county’s controversies. That statement says that the deputies association is aware of the disputes and lawsuits and none of this will jeopardize the public safety.
In addition to that, the State’s Association of Sheriffs put out a statement, strongly defending Sheriff Allard. The association accused the Steuben County Legislature of threatening to punish the sheriff for not running things exactly the sheriff’s office the way that certain lawmakers wanted.
In response to the Deputies And State Sheriff’s Statements, Steuben County Legislative Chair Scott Van Etten issued the following statement:
“Like Sheriff Allard’s statements, the Sheriffs’ Association open letter is wrong on both the facts and substance. At no time has any member of the Legislature or County government ‘threatened to punish’ Sheriff Allard, as stated in the letter. New York State Law, by default, does not provide a Sheriff with indemnification, it requires an act of the County Legislature to do so. The recent action of rescinding this local law merely requires Sheriff Allard to obtain liability insurance at levels consistent with industry standards, as authorized by State Law.
“Interestingly, it should be noted that Counsel for the Sheriffs’ Association has previously, in writing, agreed that New York State Law excludes Sheriffs from automatic indemnification provided to other County officials. These actions in no way impact the rights of citizens, the protection or support of staff in the Sheriff’s Office, or are political in any regard.
“The constant accusations that a few Legislators and staff are seeking to usurp the authority of Sheriff Allard is absurd. The Sheriff has the ability to run his department as an independently elected official within the means of appropriate State laws and County policies. What has merely been required is that Steuben County Policy regarding harassment and discrimination is adhered to by the Sheriff, to ensure that all Steuben County employees, which includes those employed in his department, are provided with the independent means of having their harassment and discrimination claims investigated,” said Van Etten.
