The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office handled more than 24,000 police incidents and made over 500 arrests in 2025, while expanding operations, launching new initiatives, and maintaining full accreditation across all divisions, according to its newly released annual report.
Law enforcement activity tops 24,000 incidents
The report shows deputies responded to 24,436 police incidents in 2025, resulting in 552 arrests and 842 offenses lodged.
Call types ranged widely, including domestic incidents, medical calls, mental health responses, and property-related complaints, reflecting the broad scope of modern policing responsibilities detailed in the report’s law enforcement analysis section.
Corrections changes drive cost savings, revenue
A major operational shift occurred within the corrections division, where the sheriff’s office began housing female incarcerated individuals locally rather than outsourcing to other facilities.
That change was made possible through targeted hiring of female correction officers and allowed the county to both reduce costs and generate revenue by housing individuals from other jurisdictions.
In total, 615 people were committed to the Seneca County Correctional Facility in 2025, including 417 males and 198 females.
The facility also served 54,504 meals and handled dozens of inmate processes throughout the year.
Accreditation maintained across all divisions
The sheriff’s office reported reaccreditation in both its corrections and court security divisions through the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, along with a recommendation for reaccreditation in its law enforcement division.
Officials noted that the agency remains among a small number in New York to achieve full accreditation across all divisions, a designation tied to compliance with operational, training, and administrative standards.
Training and staffing remain priorities
Personnel logged 9,558.9 hours of training in 2025, with required annual training for all officers and additional specialized instruction in areas like defensive tactics, crisis intervention, and supervision.
Recruitment and retention remained a focus, though the report indicates staffing goals were only partially achieved as contract negotiations continued.
Traffic enforcement and public safety efforts
Deputies conducted 4,844 traffic stops, issued 1,244 tickets, and made 65 DWI arrests during the year.
The agency also continued to use state-funded traffic safety programs and targeted enforcement in high-risk areas identified by residents.
Community outreach and new programs
Community engagement remained a priority, with the introduction of a new “Community Coffee” initiative aimed at increasing informal interaction between deputies and residents.
The office also continued programs including D.A.R.E., scam prevention outreach, boater safety education, and public events participation.
Specialized units expand capabilities
The report highlights continued development of specialized units, including:
- A marine patrol unit that conducted search and rescue operations and vessel inspections
- A drone program expanded with additional trained pilots
- A K-9 unit with a newly deployed replacement dog
- An underwater search and recovery team supporting investigations and emergency response
All were listed among agency goals achieved or expanded during the year.
Security operations and public services
Security teams screened more than 130,000 visitors at the county office building and 11,000 at the courthouse, uncovering hundreds of prohibited items.
Meanwhile, administrative and civil operations processed hundreds of legal actions, records requests, and pistol permit transactions, including 782 FOIL requests and 423 summonses served.
Budget and structure
The sheriff’s office operates on an annual budget of approximately $17 million and is structured across multiple divisions, including patrol, corrections, criminal investigations, civil, records, and security.
Looking ahead
The report outlines several initiatives to continue into 2026, including expanded wellness programming, further technology upgrades, and continued investment in staffing and training.
Sheriff Timothy J. Thompson Jr. noted in the report that public safety remains increasingly complex, but emphasized the agency’s focus on professionalism, adaptability, and community engagement moving forward.
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