PEENSTRA TAKES OVER AS CAYUGA COUNTY UNDERSHERIFF NEXT MONTH

Photo: Stu Peenstra from Town of Seneca Falls website

It's the end of an era in law enforcement next month.

That's when Cayuga County Undersheriff Steve Smith retires after 25 years with the department. He began as a Road Patrol Deputy and has served as Undersheriff since 2019. 

He'll be replaced by Stu Peenstra, who will leave his job as Seneca Falls Police Chief. Peenstra has served with that department since 1998. Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck says Peenstra will be a great addition.

 

Schenck he sees the Undersheriff as a partner, taking on a number of important roles within the department. Peenstra takes over January 1st.

You can listen to my full Flx Ted Podcast below.

CAYUGA SHERIFF SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON DEPARTMENT DIRECTION, PRIORITIES

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Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck says he'll be posting his annual community survey soon on the department website and social media. 

He says part of his department's mission is to partner with the community and local organizations to deliver services in the way that best serves them. 

We asked the Sheriff what his priorities are for the coming year. He said it's keeping the department fully staffed and encouraging more people to consider law enforcement careers.

 

Schenck believes part of the reason for the drop off in applicants is the increasingly negative attitudes toward law enforcement that have developed in recent years.

You can hear my full Flx Ted Podcast with Sheriff Brian Schenck below.

THIEVES TAKING CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FROM CARS IN SOUTHERN CAYUGA COUNTY

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If you start your car in the morning and it's really loud, you may be the victim of a theft.

Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck says there's been a rash of thefts of catalytic converters from cars in the southern part of the county.

 

Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill in October designed to crack down on catalytic converter thefts. The bill requires so-called chop shops to keep records of the converters they receive and submit them to the state every 60 days.

The new law also requires new car dealers to stock etching kits to put serial numbers on converters.  

CARFAX, a leading source of vehicle data, has identified the following vehicles as most likely to have their catalytic converters stolen nationwide:

1985-2021 Ford F-Series

1989-2020 Honda Accord

2007-2017 Jeep Patriot

1990-2022 Ford Econoline

1999-2021 Chevrolet Silverado

2005-2021 Chevrolet Equinox

1997-2020 Honda CR-V

1987-2019 Toyota Camry

2011-2017 Chrysler 200

2001-2021 Toyota Prius

Nerdwallet reports there are also locking cables on the market for $300-800. It can cost up to $3,000 to replace stolen catalytic converters, due to damage often done to the vehicles by the thieves. 

Listen to my full Flx Ted Podcast with Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck below.

CAYUGA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT COOPERATING WITH INMATE DEATH INVESTIGATION

Photo: Stock photo by Matthew Henry

 

The Cayuga County Sheriff's Department says it's cooperating fully with the state Attorney General and Department of Corrections as they investigate the death of an inmate at the County Jail.

The inmate, a man who has not been identified, was found unresponsive in his cell at about 7:30AM on Thanksgiving Day. He was transported to an area hospital for emergency care and died the next day.

Cayuga County Sheriff Brian Schenck says cells are checked routinely during the overnight.

 

Schenck says his department is conducing its own internal investigation of the death.

Listen to my full Flx Ted Podcast conversation with the Sheriff below.

THE FLX TED PODCAST - CAYUGA COUNTY SHERIFF BRIAN SCHENCK

Photo: Sheriff Schenck, Sheriff's Dept. Facebook page

 

In our monthly conversation with the Sheriff, we discussed: 

Six year old Alivia Schroeder of Aurelius, who called 9-1-1 when her father became ill last month. She was named a Junior Deputy and received a certificate from the Sheriff.

In the coming weeks, the Sheriff's Department will release its online 2022 Community Survey. The primary goals of this survey will be to gather feedback from the public about service delivery (good and bad) ,identifying areas that the public would like the department to focus on as we move into 2023, and identify ways to continue building positive relationships with all that they serve. 

Undersheriff Steven Smith is beginning to transition to his retirement at the end of the month, when former Seneca Falls Police Chief Stu Peenstra will assume the position. Chief Peenstra attended training this week in Albany sponsored by the NY State Sheriff's Association to prepare newly elected Sheriffs and Undersheriffs for their positions.

There have been some recent catalytic converter thefts from vehicles at the south end of Cayuga County. As always, the Sheriff encourage that regardless of where you live, never leave your keys or valuables in an unoccupied vehicle.

This past Sunday the Sheriff joined members of the Custody Division at Oneida Shores on Oneida Lake to take the Polar Plunge in support of Special Olympics. 

Mental Health, suicide, and substance abuse crisis situations continue to present immediate challenges in our community and throughout Central NY. Anyone can call 9-8-8 to get immediate help and support. Call 9-1-1 in an emergency. 

The Sheriff's Department continues to work with the NY State Attorney General's Office's Special Investigations Unit and the State Commission of Correction to investigate the passing of an incarcerated individual that was housed in our jail and found unresponsive on Thanksgiving night. The department is also conducting its own internal investigation.  

Our theme music is "Sugar Zone" by Silent Partner. You can find their music and other copyright-free music here.

 

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