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POLICE SERVICES DIVISION - PATROL SERVICES

     Uniformed law enforcement officers in the distinctive red & white patrol vehicles represent the most visible Division, the Police Services Division.

     The Police Services Division is charged with law enforcement duties, traffic enforcement, crime prevention and service to the citizens of Erie County. To facilitate these actions, the Police Services Division is headquartered in Chestnut Ridge Park at 1 Sheriff's Dr., Orchard Park, New York 14127. The Sheriff's Office maintains substations in the towns of Grand Island, Clarence, Alden, Elma, Colden, Sardinia and Collins, along with the Villages of Springville and North Collins.

     This deployment of personnel ensures rapid response to the needs and concerns of the citizens of Erie County, which encompasses 1034 square miles. In addition to the familiar red and white patrols of the county, many unique services are provided, some of which are outlined below.

TRAFFIC SAFETY BUREAU

Accident Records

Accident Investigation

Speed Enforcement

Commercial Vehicle Enforcement

COUNTY BUILDING SECURITY - RECORDS

INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES

Detective Bureau

Fire/Hazmat Investigation

Identification Bureau - Criminal Records - Fingerprinting

Warrant Squad

Pistol Permit Investigations

NARCOTICS/INTELLIGENCE

HELICOPTER SEARCH & RESCUE

SUPPORT & SPECIAL SERVICES

Weapons & Ordnance/K-9

Underwater Recovery

Marine - Snowmobile

ATV Unit

Reserve Forces - Marine - Mounted - Aviation - Scientific -

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TRAFFIC BUREAU

    The primary goal of the Traffic Bureau is to create safe highways through the public's adoption of safety habits and voluntary compliance with the law.

Accident Records

     This unit performs the necessary research and statistical analysis, for current and future traffic and highway safety program planning, by:

• Collecting and maintaining statistical records, computer printouts and other pertinent information.
• Preparing and maintaining relevant charts, graphs and pin maps.

     The most important function of this statistical unit is the computation of accident and D.W.I. (Driving While Intoxicated ) statistics.

     Reports and information forwarded to the Bureau Commander serve as the key to formulation of manpower and equipment scheduling, and are also the basis for all traffic grants and program planning.

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Accident Investigation/Speed Enforcement

     The Accident Investigation Unit is a specialized team whose members are specially trained and certified by N.Y.S. Division of Criminal Justice Services Bureau for Municipal Police.

      The primary responsibility of AIU is investigating fatal, extremely serious injury, departmental accidents and accidents involving public conveyances and County owned vehicles.

     All personnel are trained extensively in all phases of accident investigation and attend basic, intermediate, advanced and technical crash management courses conducted by the NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services.

      The Unit instructs students at the Central Police Academy. Part of educating the new recruit is to provide officers with eight hours of field problems.

     Each week the 13 breath test units are calibrated and repairs are made. The units must be calibrated regularly and, based on requirements of each instrument, attended to at least once a month. Bi-annual trips are made to Albany to have the breath -testing equipment certified by the Bureau For municipal Police.

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Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit

     The commercial Vehicle Enforcement team's primary objective is to reduce the number of trucks exceeding the weight limits prescribed by law from traveling the county highways.

     The team enforces weight laws, measures vehicles, checks for proper permits and proper log book documentation, and identifies other vehicle & traffic violations.

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COUNTY BUILDING PATROL

     Deputies provide daily security throughout the Erie County Rath Building and Pearl street Building and the surrounding areas.

     They respond to trouble calls in the buildings, especially from the Department of Social Services that is located in both buildings.

     Daily activities include money escorts, bomb searches, fire evacuations and maintaining an overall secure atmosphere for employees and visitors of the buildings.

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RECORDS UNIT

     Records Department is responsible for:

• The information flow throughout the Erie County Sheriff's Office by facilitating paper work properly through the proper channels.
• The Records section performs various administrative tasks, such as handling warrants, arrests, criminal histories and uniform crime reporting.

Record Review: The NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) provides individuals with the opportunity to obtain and review their own criminal history record for the purpose of challenging the accuracy and completeness of that record. Individuals may also request a copy of their own criminal history record for personal use. [If no record exists, a statement to that effect will be provided.] To obtain a copy of your criminal history record, request an informational packet from:

Record Review Unit
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
4 Tower Place
Albany, New York 12203-3764

or call 518-485-7675

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INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES

     This Bureau is responsible for the comprehensive investigation of all criminal matters reported to the Sheriff's Patrol Division.

     Investigators work closely with town, state and federal law enforcement agencies and have special abilities and expertise, which are available to all municipalities within Erie County.

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Detective Bureau

     The Detective Bureau is responsible for investigating a full range of criminal activity, maintaining the entire Sheriff's Office's evidence, and conducting an annual auction to dispose of unclaimed property.

      Detectives handle cases ranging from homicides to petit larcenies and are routinely assigned to burglaries, robberies, larcenies, suspicious deaths and forgeries.

     Detectives may respond as deputies in a routine matter or may assume the investigations of complex or time consuming matters.

     In addition, detectives are assigned to such diverse duties as Dignitary Protection, undercover assignments, temporary duty with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration or the Secret Service.

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Fire Investigation

     The Unit's main goal is to heighten the community's awareness of the arson problem and to establish innovative educational programs to reduce arson.

     Investigators have State and federal certification in determination of cause and origin of fires and are continuously being trained in the ever changing and challenging field of fire investigation.

     The Unit is the contact point for the New York State Burn Injury Reporting System (which provides for mandatory reporting of all burn injuries in the County) and all local hospitals and police departments.

     Available to all municipalities and fire companies, the Unit serves the citizens of Erie County 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Hazmat Investigation

     This unit trains Sheriff's and other agency personnel on hazardous material recognition identification.

     Training complies with OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Association) requirements for individuals who are "first responders."

     Other agencies receiving instructional training in Hazardous Material, Include volunteer fire companies, Mercy Flight pilots and LaSalle Ambulance.

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IDENTIFICATION BUREAU - CRIMINAL RECORDS - FINGERPRINTING

     The Bureau of Identification provides support services for criminal investigations and assists in cooperative investigations with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

     Tasks are divided among crime scene investigations; processing of evidence for latent fingerprints or trace evidence; providing photographs or photo processing services; and criminal record filing.

Criminal Records Section

     Personnel maintain and create criminal history records and fingerprint files on arrested persons and field requests for criminal history checks from the Sheriff's Office and other agencies throughout the Country.

Physical Evidence & Latent Print Section

     Staff examines items of physical evidence which are gathered in criminal cases. Crime scene fingerprints are examined, identified, and expert testimony is provided for court cases. Trace evidence is preserved for evaluation by Police Forensic Labs specializing in DNA, hair & fiber analysis.

Fingerprinting

     This unit issues documents or processes fingerprints for arrests, permits and licenses, identification verification and employment. Charges for the service brings in revenues.

     Present and retired employees of the Erie County Sheriff's Office are issued identification cards.

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Criminal Warrant Squad

Warrant Squad Detectives supplement patrol efforts by:

• serving warrants, summonses and subpoenas, and
• handling warrants which fall outside the normal patrol districts.

      Unit personnel handle all extradition of felony suspects to other jurisdictions.

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Pistol Permit Unit

     This Unit conducts investigations for the issuance of:

• Pistol Permits
• Gun Dealer and Gunsmith licenses, and
• Gun Dealer and Gunsmith license renewals

     Personnel enforce suspension and revocation of permits/licenses and seize weapons.

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NARCOTICS & INTELLIGENCE UNIT

     The Narcotics and Intelligence Bureau is responsible for the investigation of illegal drug trafficking throughout Erie County and the arrest and conviction of those persons possessing and dealing in illicit drugs.

     The Unit has a unique working relationship with other police agencies in Erie county and frequently provides these agencies with the manpower and expertise for local drug trafficking investigations.

     The fundamental method of investigation by Narcotics Unit is an undercover "buy" operation.

     Drugs that are purchased on the street are stored at the Erie County Central Police Laboratory and later used as evidence at the defendant's trial or destroyed.

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Helicopter Search & Rescue Unit  ·  Sheriff Unveils New Helicopter

The Air Support Unit is currently flying - 1 American Eurocopter - Model AS350B2 - A Star. This new aircraft is capable of carrying a pilot and 5 passengers. It is capable of 150 mph speed.

Air 1 is equipped with:

• Rescue hoist (300 lbs)
• Cargo hook
• Emergency inflatable floats
• 15 million candlepower searchlights
• Special day/night camera VCR recorder system
• Computerized Street Navigation System
• Digital/Analog Video Downlink System. Capable of sending broadcast quality video up to 90 miles away.
• Lock-back rescue slide doors.

This new Eurocopter extends the range, endurance and rescue/surveillance capabilities.

Air 2 is a Hughes 500 Turbine Helicopter and is equipped with:
This aircraft is capable of carrying a pilot and 3 passengers. The aircraft was given to the Sheriff's Office through the United States Military 1208 surplus equipment program. This aircraft was totally refurbished and immediately put into service with the latest high tech search and rescue equipment installed.

The Search & Rescue Unit is the only full time dedicated law enforcement helicopters in Erie County. We are available to 28 Police agencies and 96 fire companies in Erie County, and respond on a regular basis to assist the nine adjoining counties. We are also the official first-responder helicopter for the United States and Canadian Coast Guard in the Buffalo Area.

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Weapons And Ordnance Unit/K9 Bomb Dog

     The Weapons and Ordnance Unit is manned by officers who have received special training from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Army at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama. In a field where hands-on experience is critical, the officers train constantly.

      Weekly training with all of their equipment - X-ray, protective suits, remote entry tools, robot- and in techniques keep the officers prepared for emergency calls.

     The Unit is one of the most active in Western New York.

     The Unit serves as the main collection point and repository for all weapons in Western New York.

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Underwater Recovery Unit

     The primary function of the Underwater Division is the search and recovery of unfortunate victims of water accidents, recovery of evidence, automobiles and stolen articles.

     The divers are on 24-hour call for rescue and recovery cooperation. The squad gives public and private lectures and demonstrations regarding all phases of diving.

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Marine Patrol Unit/Snowmobile

     The marine Unit is primarily responsible for patrolling the ninety miles of navigable shoreline of Erie County, which includes:

• Lake Erie
• Buffalo Harbor
• Buffalo River
• Niagara River
• Black Rock Canal
• New York State Barge canal

     Staffed full time with officers trained in navigation law and search and rescue procedures, and assisted by a fully trained Reserve Division, the Marine Patrol is responsible for:

• The enforcement of the Navigation Law and related laws.
• Being ready 24 hours a day, to perform search and rescue operations, accident investigations and marine larceny investigations. The primary Marine Patrol functions are to:
• answer all marine complaints
• answer boater calls for assistance
• investigate all boating accidents
• educate the boating public through lectures and distributing informational literature
• enforce the New York Navigation Law, Penal Law and related local laws.

     Marine personnel conduct the Sheriff's Dock Watch Program that encourages and assists boat owners to itemize and identify all boating equipment.

Snowmobile

     The Snowmobile Unit patrols snowmobile trails, parks, roadways and land masses of Erie County frequented by snowmobile drivers.

     The full-time officers, who receive support from reserve officers, work closely with all federal, state and local police, including Canadian law enforcement agencies.

     On call 24 hours a day, the Unit is headquartered in Sprague Brook park and has bases in Chestnut Ridge and Como Lake Parks.

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ATV Unit

     The Sheriff's Office acquired two brand new all terrain vehicles (ATV's with money donated to the Erie County Sheriff's Office from a private foundation.

     The ATV's will provide the Erie County Sheriff's Office with greater accessibility in areas where other means of transportation are impossible, like in heavily wooded areas; if the ceiling is too low for flying Sheriff's Air One where a search and rescue is underway; or in helping track suspects.

     All terrain vehicles have become more popular in recent years, and with their growing popularity, problems have occurred in areas such as an operator's lack of knowledge of New York State ATV laws; lack of respect of a person's private property; and a lack of respect for the environment.

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Reserve Forces

Aviation Reserve Unit
Mounted Reserve Unit
Scientific Reserve Unit
Marine Reserve Unit
Snowmobile Reserve Unit

     The members of each of the Sheriff's five Reserve Divisions are dedicated men and women who willingly give of their time to augment Sheriff's Office staff and serve their community.

     All equipment and animals used by reserve members are owned and maintained by them, at their own expense.

     Although each of the Divisions has its own unique function, division members collectively participate in drills, competitions and training, and assist Sheriff's Officers with special security details.

Aviation Reserve Division

     Aviation reservists serve as pilots or observers and assists with ground operations when additional manpower is needed.

     Pilots are called upon to help perform search and rescue missions, air surveillance and air transportation.

Mounted Reserve Division

     The Mounted Division patrols County parks, the Erie County fairgrounds, football games and rock concerts at Rich Stadium, River walk, and the Eastern Hills Mall during holiday season.

      While on patrol, duties involve crowd and traffic control, first aid response, or assisting in policing altercations.

     Mounted reserves conduct search and rescue missions in wooded are looking for lost children or suspects in hiding, serve as honor guards at law enforcement funerals, march in parades and present Mounted Division Demonstrations.

Scientific Reserve Division

     The Scientific reserve Division was organized in November 1971 as an all volunteer advisory group of highly skilled individuals to provide technical assistance to Sheriff's Office.

     Members spend many hours responding to specific requests to conduct scientific investigations, studies or analysis falling within the member's expertise.

     Scientific services include the medical, physical, art, business and social sciences.

Marine Reserve Division

     The staff supplement and assist the Marine Patrol Unit on weekends and holidays performing many of the same duties as the Sheriff's officers.

Snowmobile Reserve Div.

      The staff supplement and assist the Snowmobile Patrol Unit on weekends and holidays and help out with a variety of details.

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