POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro is calling on Governor Kathy Hochul to let acting Sheriff Kirk Imperati remain in that position until the November elections.
He has been serving as undersheriff for years but took over command of the office when Sheriff Butch Anderson died last year.
Hochul, a Democrat, said her office is vetting candidates to be interim sheriff through the end of the year.
Molinaro, a Republican, said her move is nothing more than political.
“There is no one in Dutchess County more capable, qualified, or trusted than Kirk Imperati to be the sheriff of Dutchess County and it would be a horrible mistake and it would negatively impact public safety, law enforcement, and the work we are doing in Dutchess County to even make an appointment of anyone else,” he said.
Should Hochul name a Democrat, it would give that individual the advantage of incumbency in the fall election. Imperati, a Republican, has already announced his intention to run for the county’s top law enforcement position.
