CARMEL - The week of September 16th through September 22 is “Sheriffs Week” in New York State, proclaimed by Governor Andrew Cuomo and Putnam County Sheriff Donald Smith, President of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association.

The theme of Sheriffs Week this year is: “Your Sheriff…the People’s Choice for Public Safety.”  Today’s Sheriffs are proud of the rich history of their Office.  It is one of the oldest institutions in America, dating back to Biblical times.  The Office of Sheriff in America is a direct descendant of a figure in medieval England, when people lived in community groups known as shires and elected as their protector and leader called the “reeve of the shire.”  Over time, that person became known as the “shire reef,” which later was rendered as “the Sheriff.”

As challenging as it may be, most Sheriffs are elected every four years.  It is this election process that makes the Office of Sheriff unique to all of law enforcement.  These elections make most of the 3,083 county Sheriffs throughout the United States directly accountable to the people they serve.  This is a special – even sacred – entrustment of responsibility, by which Sheriffs are duty-bound to represent their constituents fairly and conscientiously.  The holder of the Office of Sheriff must always be willing to do the right thing for the people they serve.

“We believe that the provisions of the All Crimes DNA Bill coupled with the enhanced services provided by DMV, will aid in solving more crimes”, said Sheriff Smith.  “We are confident that they will have a great impact in the deterrence of crime thus help making our county even safer.  These advancements in law enforcement’s arsenal will also provide added protection to deputy sheriffs, police officers, state troopers and emergency service providers throughout New York State,” the Sheriff continued.