Anderson displays national and state stats for 2016
POUGHKEEPSIE – In 1717, before the birth of the United States, Dutchess County had a sheriff, Cornelius Van DenBogart, who was appointed by the King of England, to protect his interests in the New World.
Current Dutchess County Sheriff Adrian “Butch” Anderson was on hand Tuesday at headquarters to kick off the 300th anniversary celebration of the law enforcement agency. He spoke of the respect that he has for the 450 or so employees under his supervision.
The sheriff demands one thing from his sworn officers; they need to help the public.
“I don’t care how many tickets they write or how many arrests they make,” Anderson said. “I care about how many people they help on a daily basis!”
At the gathering Sgt. Jonathan Hughes, who manages the records, had several historical documents on display including pistol permit applications belonging to Eleanor Roosevelt, James Cagney, and James Earl Jones. Hughes gave an overview of the history of the department and simultaneously made a plea to the public; he is requesting anyone that has old photos or memorabilia regarding the sheriff’s office to contact him at 845-486-3800.
The presentation by Sgt. Hughes also served as a reminder that the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office has handled several high-profile cases over the years. Most notable are the 1930 murders of the Germond family, the Tawanna Brawley case, and the raid of the residence and subsequent arrest of LSD advocate Timothy Leary.
Anderson pointed out that technology has helped law enforcement grow by leaps and bounds. He recalled when computers first became available for patrol vehicles and his predecessor, Sheriff Fred Scoralick, railed against the innovation saying that the department didn’t need them. Anderson pointed out that it’s hard to imagine a patrol car without one now.
He also stressed the need for students to study forensic sciences because he believes that discipline is the future of law enforcement.
