POUGHKEEPSIE – A law enforcement career spanning nearly three decades came to an end on Friday when Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Shawn Castano walked out of his office for the last time. Castano began his career as an officer with the Town of Lloyd in 1993 until joining the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office in 1997, where he served until Friday’s retirement.
Sheriff Kirk Imperati said, “Lieutenant Shawn Castano is an outstanding individual,” calling him “Driven with a tremendous work ethic who always goes above and beyond when answering the call for service.” Imperati said Castano was instrumental in implementing the police modernization and reform plan.
Castano will only be retired from public safety for one week. On August 22 Castano will return to the Dutchess County workforce when he starts work at Dutchess County Emergency Response where he will serve as the deputy commissioner of the office.
“I’m definitely going to miss the people that I’ve worked with,” Castano said on Friday, “both the sworn officers and the civilian staff.”
“Shawn shined during the pandemic,” Imperati noted. “He organized and supervised our detail at Dutchess Stadium and worked well with all county government departments to ensure the health and safety of our staff and community.” Speaking on Castano’s upcoming new job he said, “Our loss is emergency response’s gain and I know he will do a tremendous job.”
Castano began his tenure with the sheriff’s office as a road patrol deputy and proceeded to serve as a School Resource Officer for the Pawling School District, a Marine Patrol deputy, ATV Patrol deputy, and police instructor within the Training Bureau. In 2006, Shawn was promoted to the rank of Patrol Sergeant.
Castano told Mid-Hudson News that he’s going to miss being a part of the Marine Patrol. “It certainly has been one of the better assignments that I’ve had here at the sheriff’s office.” Sheriff’s Lieutenant Mike Dampf leads the Marine Patrol and Castano is hopeful that his friend will accommodate him. “Hopefully once in a while they’ll let me still go for a ride on the boat.”
In 2007, Castano graduated from the 230th session of the FBI National Academy, a privilege that only one percent of all law enforcement officers are invited to attend in Quantico, Virginia.
Castano’s extensive knowledge of a variety of subjects along with exemplary leadership skills led to him becoming the sheriff’s training sergeant. The lieutenant was also assigned to the Dutchess County Fire Investigation Division as a fire investigator.
In 2012, Castano was appointed as the director of the Dutchess County Law Enforcement Academy, the same police academy from which he graduated in 1993. In 2013, he was cross-designated as a task force officer for the US Department of Homeland Security. In 2015, Shawn was appointed as a deputy fire coordinator for Dutchess County.
In 2018, Castano was promoted to lieutenant and has been the commanding officer overseeing the Training Bureau, Civil Bureau, Pistol Permit Bureau, and Records Bureau. His duties also include Marine Patrol Unit Supervisor, Fire & Arson Investigation Unit Supervisor, Deputy Public Information Officer, and Emergency Management Officer for the DCSO. Additionally, in 2022 Shawn graduated from the FEMA National Emergency Management Basic Academy and became the first member in the history of the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office to achieve this accomplishment.
