The Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office just joined an elite group of law enforcement agencies across New York State — and it’s thanks to the hard work of its Road Patrol Division.
On September 10, the division was officially recognized by the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Accreditation Council for meeting 112 rigorous professional standards. The honor was announced during a council meeting in Albany.
The Road Patrol Division is now one of only 189 accredited law enforcement agencies out of more than 530 statewide. It’s the second Cayuga County division to earn accreditation this year — the Custody Division passed its assessment back in January.
“This recognition marks a huge achievement,” said Sheriff Brian Schenck. “It speaks to the hard work our staff does every day to serve this community with professionalism, care, and integrity.”
To become accredited, the division had to meet standards across three major categories: training, operations, and administration. The process included:
- 12 training modules for basic, in-service, and supervisory education
- 47 operations modules covering crime response, patrol, investigations, and critical events
- 51 administrative modules on management, personnel, and interagency cooperation
A three-day on-site review included 280 interviews and 87 observations by a DCJS assessment team.
Retired Lieutenant James Picchi, who led the assessment team, praised the agency’s professionalism and strong documentation, noting a “very customer-oriented” and high-morale environment.
Sheriff Schenck credited both current and former team members for getting the division across the finish line. Special thanks went to Undersheriff Stu Peenstra — who also received the “John Kimball O’Neil Certificate of Achievement” for his role as Accreditation Program Manager.
Also recognized were Clerk Kristin George, Deputy Justin Leszczynski, Deputy Brendan Raftis, and retired Sergeant Tim Axton. Former Lieutenants Mike Wellauer and Fred Cornelius were instrumental in updating the agency’s policies and procedures before the process began.
Accreditation offers more than just a certificate. It means:
- Fair and consistent personnel practices
- Clear policies that meet professional standards
- Greater protection against lawsuits
- Stronger community trust and transparency
“This shows that we’re not just meeting expectations — we’re exceeding them,” Schenck said.
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