Colleen O'Neill votes this morning in LaFargeville

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill voted today at around 9:00 am in La Fargeville.

"I am looking forward to continuing to campaign up until the end of the day," said Ms. O'Neill. "I also encourage everyone to vote today."

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Colleen O'Neill announces endorsement from Senator Gillibrand

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill announced today that she has been endorsed by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. 

"I am thrilled to receive Senator Gillibrand's endorsement," said Ms. O'Neill. "As Sheriff, I look forward to working with her to support my efforts in Jefferson County in keeping our communities and schools safe."

Senator Gillibrand said, "I am pleased to endorse Colleen M. O'Neill for Jefferson County Sheriff. Colleen has a proven record of exemplary police work, serving 28 years with the New York State Police, as well as the necessary experience as a supervisor and leader within that agency. I am even more excited that Colleen will become the first female elected Sheriff in New York State, and join the ever-increasing number of women elected to political positions."

O'Neill receives endorsement from the Black Horse Chaper of the Association of Former NYS Troopers

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill today announced that she has received the endorsement of the Black Horse Chapter of the Association of Former New York State Troopers.  

"This endorsement has special meaning to me because I worked alongside the members of this group serving Jefferson County for years," said Ms. O'Neill. The endorsement underscores the fact that through professional and personal contact, I have earned the respect of my fellow Troopers. Thank You Black Horse members for considering both candidates, for voting and your putting your trust and confidence in me." 

Ms. O'Neill has previously been endorsed by the New York State Troopers PBA, the New York State Police Investigators Association, the Police Council of New York, the National Troopers Coalition, IBEW Local 910, Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local 2, Jefferson-Lewis -St. Lawrence Counties Central Trades & Labor Council AFL-CIO, and CSEA Central Region 5.

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O'Neill receives CSEA endorsement

Jefferson County Sheriff Candidate Colleen O’Neill announced today she has received an endorsement from Civil Service Employees Association, Central Region 5.  The CSEA represents the largest number of Jefferson County employees, about 600 of the over 800 county employees.

“This endorsement is very heartening to me,” said Ms. O’Neill. “This is an important union that represents many of the County’s employees.  As Sheriff, I will value the mutual support of all of Jefferson County Departments and I hope to have the opportunity to work together on many issues and incidents.”

This is the eighth union endorsement that Ms. O’Neill has received. She is also endorsed by:

·         New York State Troopers PBA

·         New York State Police Investigators Association

·         Police Council of New York

·         National Troopers Coalition

·         IBEW Local 910

·         Bricklayers and Allied Craft Workers Local 2

·         Jefferson-Lewis-St. Lawrence Counties Central Trades & Labor Council AFL-CIO

Colleen O'Neill reflects on the Primary results

Thank you to the Jefferson County voters who have shown their faith in me and believe that I will be a true leader for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

I have always said that if elected, I would change the things that are not working and to make the things that are working, work even better. That said, I truly believe that the deputies, corrections officers and civilian personnel of the Sheriff’s Office deserve the respect of the community they serve. That matters very much to me.

I am not a politician. I was a law enforcement officer for more years of my life than I wasn’t. Campaigning does not come naturally to me but telling the truth and having strong beliefs and values does. I learned about integrity by watching and listening to my parents, and then by working alongside some of the finest police officers in the country.

The team of family, friends and supporters I’ve had around me throughout this journey have been nothing short of amazing. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. Without them, there simply wouldn’t have been a campaign.

Congratulations Paul Trudeau on a great campaign. Your career in law enforcement is honorable and I congratulate you for that. I know how proud you must be of your team as they worked very hard for you.  My sincere best wishes to you and your family.

Going forward to the general election in November, my message will stay the same. I am an honest, no-nonsense professional with unmatched leadership qualifications and law enforcement experience. I will again ask the voters on November 4^th,, this time from all party affiliations to support me like they did yesterday and allow me the honor of serving them as Jefferson County Sheriff.

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Colleen O'Neill lays out plan to enhance community and school safety

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O’Neill has put forth a plan to focus the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office to enhance the safety of communities and schools throughout the County. The plan calls for:

• a goal of having a common police presence in every school,
• initiating community-oriented policing activities in partnership with local law enforcement agencies for each of the towns and villages,
• holding regular town hall meetings at each of the school districts, towns and villages to allow the public to bring forth their own ideas for ensuring community safety
• using a reverse 911 system on different levels to keep the public informed of emergencies and community interests.

O’Neill said that she has heard from many citizens about community safety. “I have been listening to the community’s concerns since I announced my candidacy for Jefferson County Sheriff in January. Parents tell me they want to send their children to school with the confidence that they will return home safely,” she said.  “As a starting point, I will ensure that a Sheriff’s Deputy adds a stop into a school, as time allows, in the course of their regular patrol. But my ultimate goaI will be to spearhead a program where state, county and local law enforcement agencies share the responsibility of this school safety program. My experience in working with these agencies will be extremely beneficial to this program’s creation. Investing in educating our kids of the dangers of among other things - drugs, bullying and distracted driving is a start. The positive result of this investment may not be immediately evident but with this commitment, the next several years may see a decline rather than another spike of these types of problems.”

Ms. O’Neill said that a police officer in school serves a purpose much greater than as simply a reactionary agent to an incident that threatens immediate danger.  A police officer can be a role model, an educator and an informal counselor.

Ms. O’Neill also pointed out that in meeting with local law enforcement agencies in Jefferson County, she has heard about the lack of collaborative relations between the Sheriff’s Office and them.  She will make it one of her top priorities to repair those relationships and foster a joint effort to work together under a community-oriented policing model. “It also means a mindset change from within the Sheriff’s Office that proactively emphasizes problem-solving and partnership-building”.

Ms. O’Neill acknowledges that programs and initiatives take funding. She said a budget review may be in order to ensure the taxpayers are not burdened but that the community and the school kids are protected.

Ms. O’Neill said that the plan is evolving and that additional goals and objectives will be added. “I have a vision of operating a law enforcement agency that is the very best in New York State because it has refocused its efforts on community and school safety through a comprehensive inter-agency collaboration and shared services.”

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Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill to hold Art Auction Fundraiser Thursday

The Friends of Colleen O'Neill are hosting an Art Auction fundraiser on Thursday August 21st at the Historic Masonic Temple, 242 Washington Street in Watertown. The event is from 6pm to 9pm and will feature paintings, drawings, photography, pottery, decoys, stained glass, quilts and more, all by local artists. The live auction will begin at 8pm. Hors d'oeuvres, music and a cash bar are included.  Tickets are $25 per person or $40 per couple. Contact 321-543-1069.

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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Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill receives another endorsement

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill announced today that she has received another endorsement. The Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local #2 unanimously endorsed her candidacy recently.  The organization represents 1,500 union construction families in upstate New York.

"To have the endorsement of this organization is certainly humbling given their representation of a large number of construction families," said Ms. O'Neill.  "They have put their faith in me for this campaign and hopefully with their help and support, we will prevail this fall. I pledge to ensure they and their families, like all citizens and families in Jefferson County can live in safe communities and can send their children to safe schools. That will be a key focus for me as Sheriff."

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Sheriff Candidate Colleen O'Neill announces more endorsements

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill today announced that she has received two more endorsements. She has been endorsed by the National Troopers Coalition (NTC), which issued a statement saying in part, "Colleen O'Neill has proven herself as hard-working, dedicated law enforcement officer who has a strong sense of justice. Colleen O’Neill is the best qualified candidate for Jefferson County Sheriff, and the National Troopers Coalition is proud to endorse her."

In addition, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union 910 in Watertown has also endorsed Ms. O'Neill. In a letter from IBEW Business Manager John T. O'Driscoll, he writes, "Your dedication to the law enforcement community and the New York State Police speaks volumes to what type of leadership you will provide to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department."

"I continue to be honored and humbled by these endorsements, now from the NTC and from the dedicated workers of IBEW," said Ms. O'Neill.  "I am very pleased that they recognized my dedication and leadership experience and have now announced their support for me.  As our campaign moves forward, I am continuing to work hard to gain the support of the citizens of Jefferson County and can proudly point to these, and to my other endorsements as an additional reference for them."

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Sheriff candidate Colleen O’Neill announces her third endorsement

PCNY the latest to get behind O’Neill in Jefferson County Sheriff’s race

Colleen O’Neill, candidate for Sheriff of Jefferson County announced today that she has received the unanimous endorsement of the Police Conference of New York (PCNY). This is the third endorsement O’Neill has received since announcing her candidacy on January 16^th.  The Police Conference of New York, Inc. is a statewide organization which was founded in 1925 and now represents 229 PBAs plus 8 regional conferences and one retired police association, with a total of 25,000 police officers throughout the State.

“I am very pleased to receive this unanimous endorsement,” said Ms. O’Neill. “I am delighted that they recognized my experience and qualifications and determined that my candidacy was worthy of such recognition.  My deepest appreciation goes out to the entire PCNY membership and I will continue to work hard in this campaign to make them proud.  My hope is that this endorsement, like the previous ones I have received, will serve as a message to the voters that my record and my experience is just what Jefferson County needs in a new Sheriff.” 

Colleen O'Neill attends Pancakes for Progress breakfast with Darrel Aubertine

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill attended the Pancakes for Progress breakfast Saturday morning at the Trinity Parish House along with former State Senator and Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets Darrel Aubertine. The event, sponsored by the Jefferson County Democratic Committee, raised funds for DPAO.

NY State Troopers PBA announce their endorsement of Colleen O'Neill for Jefferson County Sheriff

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill announced today that she has received another endorsement, this time from the Police Benevolent Association of the NY State Troopers, Inc. The endorsement in part states, "In times of economic difficulty, there is generally a corresponding increase in crime, and the PBA is confident that Colleen O’Neill will guide the Jefferson County Sheriffs Department in a direction that best provides law enforcement protection for residents."

Ms. O'Neill, who announced her candidacy in January, was very pleased to receive this endorsement. "I appreciate the State Troopers PBA recognizing my experience and work ethic and their expression of confidence in me," she said.

This is the second endorsement for Ms. O'Neill. In January she received the endorsement of the NY State Police Investigators Association.

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill receives first endorsement

Jefferson County Sheriff candidate Colleen O'Neill today announced that she has been endorsed by the New York State Police Investigators Association.   A letter from President Jeffrey J. Kayser and Mark Dembrow, Troop D Delegate said in part, "The many years of dedicated service that you have provided to the citizens of the entire State of New York and Jefferson County in particular, have forged a reputation with law enforcement personnel that is second to none."

"I am humbled and proud to receive the endorsement of NYSPIA," said Ms. O'Neill.  "I will continue to work to earn the confidence they have in me now and as the next Sheriff of Jefferson County."

Colleen O'Neill Announces her bid for Jefferson County Sheriff

STATEMENT FROM COLLEEN O’NEILL

‘Two years ago, I retired after a 28 year career with the New York State Troopers very satisfied with what I had accomplished — blessed with the people those years had brought into my life. My Trooper family. I’m thankful so many members of that family are here today.

“Although I have enjoyed the past 2 years, I suspected my background and experience, my supervisory and leadership skills were not to be packed away for long.

“Knowing that the current Sheriff was not likely to seek reelection, I started to consider what kind of contribution I could make to the Sheriff’s Department and the Citizens of Jefferson County.

“I grew up here, I work here, I live here. My parents taught me about ethics, morals and hard work. The State Police trained me to be a leader. It seemed to me to be a perfect fit. This county needs a Sheriff willing to take a strong stance on ethics issues, leading the department into the future where the community respects the sacrifices the department members make every day. A future where the members earn that respect.

“So with humility and pride, I announce my candidacy for Sheriff of Jefferson County.

“I always wanted to be a State Trooper — that’s all — no plan B. Not being old enough to take the exam straight out of High School, I signed up to study physical education at SUNY Cortland. I thought sports medicine could be my back up plan. Lucky for me, and athletes everywhere, I didn’t need a back up plan. I took the Trooper exam at the first opportunity. In my third year of college, they called and I went. Even on the longest, hardest days of the next 28 years — I never regretted that.

“I worked patrol, trained recruits, supervised stations and protected the Governor. I held children at accident scenes and arrested people who hurt them. I investigated cases ranging from neighbor disputes to homicides.

“I retired as Senior Investigator in charge of the Alexandria Bay BCI unit where I worked closely with Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies — all with the same commitment to our community’s safety and security.

“I know that the vast majority of the members of the Sheriff’s Dept are honest, hard working men and women who want and deserve the respect of the community. I agree ethics training is a priority but it is accountability that will make a difference. On-duty and off-duty accountability. Instead of police officers being allowed to believe they are above the law, we should be held to the highest of standards. It is the only way to gain the respect crucial to effective policing. Policies regarding rules and expectations must be clear and documented. Ramifications for breaking those rules clear and enforced. Integrity means possession of firm principles. Integrity is mandatory.

“I plan on researching every angle to address the lack of beds at our jail. Transporting inmates across the state for housing at another facility is expensive, but more of a concern to me, is that it is dangerous. I want to look at who is being incarcerated and why. The solution might be there. Looking at the rate of recidivism and whether any type of “corrections” is occurring or if the same offenders are simply warehoused until they are released and return.

“It is clear to me that the deputies and detectives have such a wide range of responsibilities, its difficult to prioritize duties on a daily basis. Subpoenas, warrants, evidence, firearms and field training, vehicle and computer maintenance, airport security and pistol permits are all mixed in with daily patrol and investigative duties. I will look at the possible realignment of manpower focusing on the priorities of the department and the community.

“Among my priorities is listening to community concerns and issues. Early on I will set up town hall style meetings that will contribute to where my attention and initiatives will be focused. I already know moms and dads want to send their kids to school with the confidence that they will be safe. Safe from violence, predators, drugs and bullying. I believe keeping our kids safe from harm is a good use of manpower. This is an area where cooperation with other agencies, including the SP and local first responding officers is critical. Solid plans of preparedness through communication with all of law enforcement and improved public relations are a priority of mine.

“I also already know that the rights to possess and carry firearms are forefront in the minds of our law-abiding sportsmen and women. It is important to me that you know I am a member of the NRA and a member of Ducks Unlimited. I was a firearms instructor for the state police for many years. I hunt and I believe in the right to bear arms.

“Let me quote the official response to the NY SAFE act by the NYSSA — a position with which I agree. “Sheriffs represent all of the people, and we take an oath to uphold the constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York. Sheriffs will continue to enforce all of the laws of the state and will protect the rights of all citizens, including those rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of New York.”

“As Jefferson County Sheriff, I will not target law-abiding gun owners and there is nothing in the law that mandates I should.

“In the coming weeks, I will be talking about more of my ideas toward making the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department a model for the other Sheriff Departments in our great State.

“I look forward to a vigorous campaign and a chance to hear all of your concerns and ideas.

“Thank you all for your encouragement and support.”

Find my campaign on Facebook — oneillforsheriff2Ol4

Twitter — @oneillsheriff

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