Sheriffs Department Main

Mission Statement

The Office of Sheriff in New York State is a unique and prestigious office. The law requires each county to have its own Sheriff elected by the citizens. It further requires an Undersheriff to be appointed along with requiring the service of civil process and providing of a jail to house prisoners.

The Sheriff of each County is answerable to the people who elect him. He has unique powers and authority, especially in the area of civil process. He is required to keep the peace within his County while preserving the individual's rights.

The Office of Sheriff in Wyoming County has a rich heritage. Much of this heritage has been captured in the book The Sheriff of Wyoming County written by former Sheriff Allen L. Capwell. Located within the boundaries of Wyoming County are two State Correctional Facilities, the Wyoming County Community Hospital and a portion of scenic Letchworth State Park.

The principal mission of the Wyoming County Sheriff's Office is to preserve the rights of citizens and reduce fear in the community through the prevention of crime, protection of persons and property, and the maintenance of order in public places. To anticipate and respond to events that threaten public order and the protection of life and property.

It is essential all members remember that in the execution of their duties, they act not for themselves, but for the good of the public. They shall respect and protect the rights of individuals and perform their services with honesty, zeal, courage, discretion, fidelity and sound judgment.

Deputy Sheriffs must seek and preserve public confidence by demonstrating impartial enforcement and upholding of the law and by offering service and trust to all members of the public.

It is the expressed policy of this Agency that Deputy Sheriffs will use force only when the exercise of persuasion, advice and warning is found to be insufficient to obtain public cooperation to an extent necessary to secure observance of law or to restore order; and to use only the minimum degree of physical force which is necessary upon any particular occasion for achieving a police objective.