June 14th, 2023
Innovative plan puts more deputies on the road — creates high-tech, real time center for interagency response to active crime and public safety threats
Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and Sheriff Todd Baxter today announced County Legislature approval of an unprecedented $7.3 million investment in the Sheriff’s Office. The funding, proposed by County Executive Bello last month, will add 41 sworn members to enhance the Sheriff’s road patrol in towns and villages and establishes a new Regional Investigative Operations Center (RIOC).
“Modern challenges like smash and grabs, catalytic converter and car thefts, and drug and gun violence are requiring us to be more innovative in our approach to addressing these crimes, keeping residents safe and holding people accountable,” said County Executive Bello. “This historic investment will reshape the way the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will operate for years to come by giving our law enforcement officers the tools they need and the ability to adjust to the challenges they face. I’m grateful to Sheriff Baxter for his partnership developing this plan and to the County Legislature for their overwhelming support of the proposal.”
“Government working collaboratively to solve problems is exactly what our community deserves”, said Sheriff Todd K. Baxter. “I thank County Executive Bello and the County Legislature for their recognition of this, asking questions and allowing us to share input while developing this plan to improve public safety. This funding will allow our deputies to provide the level of service our community expects.”
With 30 new road patrol deputies and three lieutenants, the Sheriff's Office will create new positions in each of its three coverage zones (A, B, and C). With these additional resources, there will be increased road patrols during the busiest times, allowing for increased proactivity.
Years of disinvestment in the Sheriff's Office have resulted in understaffed platoons and limited geographic coverage, with an average of one deputy per 3,600 residents, which is less than half the national average. This has forced some deputies to cover more than 30 square miles on their own.
The funding will also allow for enhanced Sheriff’s Office coverage at the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport, an additional juvenile investigator and a county-wide crime coordinator.
The Regional Investigative Operations Center will be tasked with communication and coordination among multiple law enforcement agencies when it comes to pattern crimes, as well as threats of violence, across multiple jurisdictions. The RIOC will be equipped with the latest software and technology, capable of supporting large scale investigations and county wide emergencies. In addition, RIOC will work in concert with the Monroe Crime Analysis Center (MCAC), Monroe County Emergency Operations Center and the Rochester Threat Advisory Committee (ROCTAC), as ROCTAC is expanding here in Monroe County and throughout the state.
“When I talk to neighbors, they tell me that they are most concerned with one thing – they want to feel safe. They want to live, work, and play in our community without having to wonder if they or their family might be next. I am proud to support this investment in public safety,” said Legislator Dave Long.
