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Orange County Sheriff announces civil‑division accreditation and deputy EMT cross‑training
Summary
Sheriff Arteta said the county's civil division has been accredited by the New York State Sheriff's Association and that deputies are being cross‑trained as EMTs; the sheriff said the civil unit handled nearly 6,000 documents in 2024 and processed over $7 million in funds.
Sheriff Arteta and New York State Sheriff's Association legal counsel Alex Wilson appeared before the Orange County Legislature on Thursday to announce accreditation of the Orange County Sheriff's Office Civil Division and to outline a new deputy EMT cross‑training initiative.
The sheriff said the New York State Sheriff's Association granted accreditation to the county civil division after the office created new policies and procedures to meet 21 required standards. Sheriff Arteta said accreditation "ensures that we follow the best practices in accounting, compliance with law, process service, and proper staff training." He told the Legislature the civil division processed nearly 6,000 court documents in 2024 and that more than $7,000,000 in monies owed and revenue passed through the office last year.
Alex Wilson of the New York State Sheriff's Association praised the achievement and stressed the civil office's role in executing court orders. "You are the enforcement mechanism for that component of our system of justice, and this accreditation is well deserved," Wilson said.
The sheriff also described a recently launched program to cross‑train deputies as emergency medical technicians. "A lot of his deputies on the road are getting cross trained as EMTs," one sponsor said during the presentation; the chairman added that deputies who have been cross‑trained have already been credited with two life saves in the past six to eight months. The sheriff said county deputies will be equipped with some emergency medical equipment in patrol cars to provide faster initial response to medical emergencies.
The announcement did not include an implementation schedule, a staffing or budget plan for the accreditation's ongoing administrative requirements, or procurement details for the life‑saving equipment. The sheriff acknowledged the work of long‑time civil‑division staff and singled out Shannon Mahoney, civil group leader, for nearly 30 years of service.
No formal legislative action was required to receive the accreditation; the appearance before the Legislature served as recognition and public notice. The sheriff thanked the Legislature for its support and said the accreditation and cross‑training efforts will help the office mitigate risk and improve service to county residents.
