The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office is entering the warmer months with a full slate of events, training, and community engagement, according to its Spring 2025 Newsletter. Sheriff Timothy J. Thompson, Jr. praised the department’s accomplishments in the first quarter and emphasized continued focus on accreditation, partnerships, and public safety.
In his message, Thompson shared updates on the successful launch of monthly Community Coffee Events, held at local restaurants to build relationships with residents. He also announced the creation of a multi-agency Emergency Response Team in collaboration with the Seneca Falls Police Department. This specialized unit, the first of its kind in the county, is trained to handle high-risk incidents.
Among upcoming events, the Sheriff’s Office will host Drug Take Back Day on April 26, followed by a Church Leadership Safety Meeting on April 30. Law Day, aimed at exposing students to law enforcement careers, takes place May 14. On May 15, a Peace Officer Memorial Day Ceremony will be held in Romulus to honor officers lost in 2024.
Boater Safety Classes, now mandatory for New York vessel operators, will continue this spring. Free to the public, the eight-hour course is split into two evening sessions. Upcoming dates include April 24–25 and May 19–20. Snowmobile safety classes and the recently completed training of a new K-9 team, Deputy Jacobsen and K-9 Frank, are also part of the agency’s expanded safety programming.
The newsletter highlighted several outreach and recruitment efforts. Officers visited South Seneca Elementary in March for a “Sweets and Treats” event and held recruiting sessions at Finger Lakes Community College. Community Coffee events were also hosted in Willard, Waterloo, and Ovid, offering residents a chance to connect directly with deputies.
In January, the office honored John Walters, the only Seneca County deputy to die in the line of duty, with a remembrance ceremony and dedicated training room. The month also saw the annual Awards Ceremony, recognizing outstanding service in 2024.
As Sheriff Thompson noted, the department’s goal is to serve with professionalism and continue strengthening ties with the public. “Please drive carefully and stay safe!” he wrote in closing.
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