Rockland County Legislature Recognizes Sheriff’s Civil Enforcement Division For Achieving Accreditation

Rockland County legislators are recognizing the Civil Enforcement Division of the Rockland County Sheriff’s Office for achieving accreditation from the New York State Sheriffs’ Association.

The achievement took work – the division had to meet 121 strict standards, submit detailed compliance reports and go through an on-site audit by the NYS Sheriffs’ Association.

“The amount of effort that goes into meeting these standards is never-ending and we are grateful to Sheriff Lou Falco and his entire staff for taking on these tasks,” County Legislature Chairman Jay Hood Jr. said. “By doing so, they ensure that the residents of Rockland County are served and protected by a top-notch professional law enforcement agency.”

Chairman Hood presented a Proclamation to Rockland County Sheriff Louis Falco III recognizing and honoring the accreditation and all of the efforts of the Sheriff’s Office. 

Also participating were New York State Sheriff’s Association Executive Director Peter R. Kehoe and New York State Sheriff’s Association President Sheriff James B. Quattrone. They presented awards to Sheriff Falco and the individual members of the Civil Division’s Accreditation Team and also acknowledged the overall staff and efforts of the County Sheriff’s Office.

Both NYSSA leaders noted that only 31 counties out of 62 have their Sheriffs’ Civil Division accredited. Further, Rockland is one of only 15 out of the 62 counties that have all of their divisions accredited – Civil, Corrections, Patrol, and Communications/PSAP. The department also includes multiple specialty units – Crime Scene Investigation, Bomb Unit, Fire Investigation, K9, a Mounted Unit, Marine Patrol, Tactical Response and Computer Crimes Investigation.

“The Sheriff’s Office has had to adapt to a world where the threats to public safety are ever-changing,” County Legislature Public Safety Committee Chairman Paul Cleary said. “I thank Sheriff Falco and his staff for evolving their efforts and for their willingness to undergo rigorous outside reviews. This puts law enforcement in a better position to respond across Rockland County.”

The Civil Enforcement Division is mandated by NYS to serve and enforce court directives in Rockland County. That work, which can put officers in potentially life-threatening situations, can include income execution (garnishments), property executions (evictions), Sheriff sales of real and personal property, family court orders, orders of seizure, warrants of arrest, and more.

Sheriff Falco said accreditation is important because it leads to greater administrative and operational effectiveness; promotes public transparency; diminishes the vulnerability to lawsuits; offers assurance of fair recruitment and promotions; and promotes greater public confidence in the Sheriff’s Office.

“I am proud of the entire Civil Enforcement Division staff and want to congratulate them for their extraordinary efforts to ensure the important work they carry out each day is done professionally and effectively for the people of Rockland County,” Sheriff Falco said. “The accreditation process takes considerable work by our sworn and civilian members to maintain but is essential to keeping the Sheriff’s Office a model of Civil law enforcement.”

To obtain accreditation, the Civil Enforcement Division must file annual compliance reports that prove 121 standards have been met and every five years, undergo on-site visits by an assessment team that audits all operations and policies to verify the division is in full conformity. The division has pursued reaccreditation every five years since it was first accredited in 2009.

Sheriff  Falco put together an accreditation compliance team to continually review the state standards and how the department complies with each. The Civil Enforcement Division team included Division Chief Dennis Salemo, Lt. Christopher Schaub, Sgt. Phil Ursillo, Deputy Vincent Abbatecola, and Principal Clerk Joyce DelRosario. Each was formally recognized during the ceremony.

In its accreditation notification letter, the assessment team stated, “The Rockland County Sheriff’s Office  Civil Enforcement Division has done an exemplary job in its efforts to implement the program standards. The office functions efficiently due to the command staff leadership and the employees’ hard work complying with the policies and mission of the department. The assessment team unanimously recommends that the department be favorably considered for reaccreditation at this time.”