O'Neill pledges to bring leadership to the Sheriff's Office

Next Sunday, August 10th is the 30th anniversary of my graduation from the New York State Police Academy. Adding to the values my parents had instilled in me, I learned about the importance of attention to detail, integrity, and honor. All character-building assets that defined my career with one of the most highly respected police agencies in the country and helped me to become a leader. 

I will bring leadership to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Leadership begins with sound management experience. At numerous points in my career I was elevated to supervisory positions including: managing the daily activities and training schedules of hundreds of recruits and instructors at the State Police Academy, conducting extensive background investigations on Trooper candidates ensuring only those who possessed the mandatory principles were admitted, managing busy patrol stations at several locations around the state as a Sergeant, and overseeing the Bureau of Criminal Investigations unit at the station in Alexandria Bay – including homeland security at the International Border as a Senior Investigator.  

The public has lost confidence in the leadership of Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. The agency’s knowledgeable, experienced supervisors and managers deserve a leader who supports them and provides them with direction which allows them to carry out their duties and responsibilities. They deserve a leader who will bring integrity to the job, not allowing ethics to be compromised. As Sheriff, one of my priorities will be to establish an internal affairs mandatory reporting system. Every personnel complaint will be heard and investigated fully. Additionally, the members of the agency will be protected from false accusations. I will ensure that the system is fair and impartial and prohibits unfair discipline practices. I will be a leader who not only manages and supports my workforce, but I will answer to the community for which I serve. The public expects and deserves that.

Our community includes other law enforcement agencies with whom I worked side by side. Since beginning this campaign, I have reached out to law enforcement leaders in an effort to open lines of communication needed to efficiently and effectively serve Jefferson County. As a veteran of law enforcement in Northern New York, I understand the necessity of cooperation between local, state, military, federal and international agencies. I also understand the obstacles.  I have the experience to build and enhance these relationships.  Through collaboration, will we be able to successfully keep our neighborhoods safe, protect our children at school and fight a heroin epidemic – among other challenges. My goal is to build the most effective law enforcement team in New York State.

I believe a key characteristic of a good leader is being a good convener and listener. For example, jail overcrowding has created a challenge for personnel and is a fiscal burden for the county. The jail is staffed with professional officers who deserve a leader who protects their safety with the community’s interest in mind. I will examine the corrections problem with a fresh perspective. Solutions will be found through a comprehensive review and collaboration with corrections officers, the District Attorney's office, court personnel, judges, and service agency program managers. We must examine the entire system - from who is being detained to what programs are in place to reduce the recidivism rate. I am confident that this review will lead to important reforms that reduce the daily jail population, and help all of the agencies in our criminal justice system work more closely together. Efficient solutions will be implemented with the goal of budgetary savings without compromising officer or public safety.

Leadership is about managing effective communications with the public. I will implement a professional external communications process that keeps the public well informed of incidents, activities, and operations of the Sheriff’s Department. As your Sheriff, I will listen to and answer to the community I serve. I will expect nothing less from the officers and employees under my command.

I am in this race because I believe my leadership experience is exactly what the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office needs right now. I have had a long law enforcement career as a public servant and as a leader. I believe I offer this county's citizens and the Sheriff's Office a new direction for which we all can be proud. With your support, I pledge to be Your Sheriff.

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