September 2017 Sheriff’s Monthly Column
Dear Neighbors,
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month: What is Domestic Violence? Domestic violence is one person’s use of a variety of tactics to control another person in an intimate relationship. Does your partner: Hit, punch, slap, kick, shove or bite you? Threaten to hurt you or your children? Abuse or threaten to harm pets? Have sudden outbursts of anger or rage? Become jealous without reason? Isolate you from family or friends? Prevent you from going where you want, when you want? Interfere with your job or going to school? Destroy personal property? Deny you access to bank accounts, credit cards or car? Control all finances? Force you to have sex or do things that make you uncomfortable? Insult you or call you names? Follow you or spy on you? Humiliate you in front of others? If you answered yes to one or more of the above, you might be abused. You are not alone. Call 911 for help and assistance. You can also contact the Victims Resource Center in Newark for help, assistance and advocacy at 315.331.1171. I will also be partnering with Acting District Attorney Chris Bokelman, Chairman Steven LeRoy and the Wayne County Board of Supervisors to bring awareness to domestic violence by presenting a proclamation at the October 17, 2017 Board of Supervisors meeting.
Wayne County will “Shine the Light on Domestic Violence”: The County’s Sheriff’s Office, Public Safety and Court House buildings will all be illuminated in purple light throughout October as Wayne County marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Purple is the symbolic color for domestic violence awareness and, historically, the battered women’s movement. WEAR PURPLE on Thursday, October 19, 2017 to help generate discussion and awareness, and recognize the victims and survivors of Domestic Violence.
Wayne County Law Enforcement Pharmaceutical Collection: On October 28, 2017 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. all Wayne County Law Enforcement Agencies will offer the opportunity to prevent drug abuse and theft of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs from their homes.
Bring your expired, unused and unwanted medications for disposal to the following locations;
Clyde PD Galen’s Express Lane 17 Sodus Street, Clyde
Sheriff’s Lyons National Bank 2 Forgham St. (Rt.31) Lyons
Macedon PD Public Safety Bldg. 1620 Wayneport Road, Macedon
Newark PD Wegman’s800 West Miller Street, Newark
NYSP Williamson Barracks3957 Rt. 104, Williamson
Palmyra PD Police Station 144 East Main Street, Palmyra
Sodus PD Village Highway Bldg.39 Gaylord Street, Sodus
Sheriff’s Ontario Substation1850 Ridge Road, Ontario
Wolcott PD Police Station6015 New Hartford St. Wolcott
The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked. Law enforcement will be at all locations to receive and dispose of old and/or no longer used medication and prescription drugs. All the Wayne County Law Enforcement agencies will partner to provide this disposal service to reduce the abuse of prescription medication and prevent polluting our landfills and water supplies. If you have prescription drugs or medications that are no longer needed or used, please use this disposal service to rid your home of any unneeded medications.
Statistical Information: In August, 77 males and 8 females (85 total) were committed to the jail facility, 67 transports, 8,182 inmate meals were served and $24,245.98 was collected from 27 inmates released on bail and fines. Inmates worked a total of 1,741 hours of labor in laundry, facility cleaning and food service. The Jail Facility boarded in 10 inmates from Oswego County (2) and Genesee County (8) Sheriff’s Offices, secured 11 parole violators and 5 inmates that were state ready for transfer to state prison. Court Security Officers cleared 2,681 people entering the Hall of Justice through the magnetometer, securing 47 weapons and 720 other contraband items similar to TSA airport security (firearms, ammunition, knives, scissors, cell phones, glass bottles, umbrellas, helmets, hand tools, etc.). Deputies traveled 85,846miles on patrol, investigating 65 motor vehicle accidents in which 15 people were injured, 26 animal complaints, 552 minor crimes, 11 major crimes and 8 fire investigations, 1,591 miscellaneous complaints totaling 3,408 for the month. Deputies issued 532 traffic tickets, 18 DWIs and made 213 violation, misdemeanor and felony arrests and 22 mental health arrests. The Records Office registered 37 sex offenders and deputies verified 108 offender home addresses, processed 89 requests for reports and conducted 59 records checks. The Pistol Permit Unit processed 83 pistol permit applications and 51 pistol permit amendments requiring a Brady Check. The Civil Office served 89 legal papers and 76 Family Court orders, handled 6 evictions, received $112,571.78 and paid out $111,980.87 to creditors. $13,916.18 was remitted to County Treasurer Thomas Warnick for the County’s General Fund.
STOP-DWI Report: Wayne County Law Enforcement charged 33people with DWI in the month of August; Newark PD 2,Macedon PD 2, Wolcott PD 1, Sheriff’s Office 9 and New York State Police 19. Please drink responsibly!
Schools and Training: Criminal Records Clerk Debby Jayne assisted with Operation SafeChild at the NYS Fair in Syracuse, SergeantMatt Hilkert and Deputy Matt Carr attended the Woodland Tactics training at the State Preparedness Training Center in Oriskany, NY, Lieutenant Matt Ryndock attended the TacOps East Tactical Training Conference in Arlington, VA, Sergeants Matt Hilkert and Tammy Ryndock attended a Homicide Seminar at the NYSP Academy in Albany, Lieutenant Rob Milby and Lieutenant Joe Croft attended the 2017 Law Enforcement Supervisors' Training Program at the Gideon Putnam in Saratoga Springs, Court Security Supervisor Dawn Pisciotti assisted Columbia County Sheriff’s Office with the NYSSA Court Security Accreditation in Hudson, NY, Deputy Chris VerStraete attended Taser CEW Instructor Re-certification in Lancaster, NY, Deputy Robert Mansell attended the SWAT Operator School in Monroe County, Lieutenants Matt Ryndock and Joe Croft, Sergeant George Lorenz, Deputies Christopher VerStraete and Matt Carr attended the SWAT Safety Officer Training in Leicester, NY, Sergeant Gil Sterk attended the Unmanned Aircraft Systems: Pilot Delivery in Oriskany, NY, Deputy Andrew Hares attended a Physical Fitness Instructor Course in Monroe County, Undersheriff Jeff Fosdick and LieutenantDavid Ambeau attended the NYSSA Jail Administrators Training Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY and I attended the NYSAC Fall Seminar in Syracuse.
Service Recognitions:Sergeant Joseph Hendler, Correction Officer Ronald Corey and Lyndsi Wernert, DeputyThomas VanEtten and Caley Gaziano completed 5 years of service. I salute Joseph, Ronald, Lyndsi, Thomas and Caley for her service!
IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING: Call 911 to report any suspicious activity.
Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) is used to inform you of events and arrests that would be released to the media, but timelier to keep you informed. Social media sites are not used as an official communication tool. Concerns and inquiries should be directed to me by calling 315.946.5797, by email at or by mail: Sheriff Barry Virts, 7376 Route 31, Suite 1000, Lyons, New York 14489. If you have a complaint that is an emergency or time sensitive, call 911 to have law enforcement respond immediately.
Visit us at our social media sites; Facebook page “Wayne County Sheriff’s Office” and two Twitter accounts; @SheriffVirts and @WayneCoSheriff and website; Load the free “MobilePatrol” APP on your smartphone for a one stop resource for all Wayne County Sheriff’s Office information (inmates, news, alerts, sex offenders, etc.).
Please contact me at 315.946.5797 or at with any questions or concerns you may have.
Sincerely, Barry Virts, Sheriff