Road Patrol

Division Members

Within the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, as a component of the Law Enforcement Bureau, there is established the Road Patrol Division. Members assigned to this component are supervised by one of seven shift sergeants who report to one of two duty lieutenants and, through the chain of command, to the sheriff.

Responsibilities

Responsibilities of those members assigned to the Road Patrol Division shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Crime prevention activities - Through regular contact with the public, members will become aware of situations that may have the potential for or appear to encourage criminal activity. The road patrol officer is in an excellent position to educate the citizen and to enlist his aid in the prevention of crime.
• First responders - All members of the Sheriff's Department Road Patrol Division are trained in CPR and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED - sometimes known as a Public Access Defibrillator or PAD). These skills are all too frequently put to use; the American Red Cross estimates that "more than 200,000 people in the US die of sudden cardiac arrest every year. Up to 50,000 of these deaths could have been prevented if an AED had been available for immediate use at the time of the emergency." The sooner these life saving techniques are used, the greater the chances for survival.
• Preventive patrol - This activity begins with the officer's mere presence in a marked vehicle in an area; however, in order to be truly effective, must include appropriate inquiry and inspection activity as well. A thorough knowledge of one's patrol sector, along with constant vigilance for the potential violations of public order and the curiosity to determine the reasons for unusual activity, will contribute greatly to the prevention of crimes and accidents.
• Response to called-for services - Because officers are in constant radio contact with the 9-1-1 Center while in an on-duty status, they are in a position to respond with appropriate speed to a call for service.
• School resource officers - Select members of the division are trained and utilized as school resource officers (SRO). Currently, there are six school districts in Ontario County utilizing the OCSO for SRO's; they are the Bloomfield, Honeoye, Marcus Whitman, Midlakes, Naples and Victor School Districts.
• Traffic enforcement - An integral part of keeping our streets and highways safe is the vigilant enforcement of the vehicle and traffic laws of the State of New York. It is through reasonable and proper enforcement of these laws that a great many lives are saved every year nationwide. This includes special programs like STOP DWI and the S.T.O.P.P.E.D. Program in addition to routine patrols.