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Sheriff reports first successful license‑plate reader activation, warns of jail overcrowding; marine‑patrol grant accepted
Summary
Tompkins County Sheriff reported deployment of new Flock license‑plate readers and first operational use May 20; the sheriff also described jail overcrowding tied to state 'ready' inmates. The committee unanimously approved acceptance of a New York State Marine Patrol grant.
Tompkins County Sheriff briefed the Public Safety Committee on May 27 about recent license‑plate reader deployments, jail population pressures and a standard annual marine‑patrol grant. The committee voted unanimously to accept a New York State Canal Corporation Marine Patrol Grant for fiscal year 2025–2026.
Sheriff’s update: license plate readers and jail pressures
The sheriff said 16 Flock license‑plate reader units were installed in recent weeks, with six more expected in early June, and described the first successful activation on May 20 in the Town of Lansing. "We were able to use Flock to locate that vehicle, the registered owner, and check on her," the sheriff said, recounting an incident where a business owner’s security footage showed an occupant who appeared unconscious. The sheriff said the subject turned out to have a medical emergency.
The sheriff also outlined continuing jail pressures tied to state‑ready inmates. He reported 88 incarcerated individuals in the county jail, including 16 state‑ready inmates (with five expected to transfer on the 29th) and an additional 15 “board outs” at other facilities. The sheriff said the state is expected to reimburse counties for some board‑out costs but did not specify a formal payment schedule; he estimated a typical board‑out reimbursement figure of roughly $85 per day while offering to confirm the precise amounts.
Grant acceptance
The committee considered a resolution authorizing the county to accept the New York State Canal Corporation Marine Patrol Grant for 2025–2026 (ID 13322). Shawna moved the resolution; Veronica seconded. Committee members described the grant as routine. The motion passed unanimously.
What this means
The Flock deployments are now operating on county and town roads while the county continues separate negotiations for state‑highway installations, the sheriff said, and members asked for a preliminary report on how the devices are performing at the committee’s June meeting. The sheriff warned that jail overcrowding remains a significant challenge until state transfers increase, and he said the county continues to seek clarity about state reimbursement for board‑outs.
