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Sheriff seeks federal grants to create narcotics and traffic enforcement units
Summary
Allegany County’s sheriff asked the Public Safety Committee to apply for two BJA grants — $600,000 for a narcotics interdiction unit and $650,000 for a traffic enforcement unit — arguing the funds would fund personnel, equipment and sustained enforcement; the committee approved both applications with one dissenting vote on each.
Sheriff Scott Cicirello told the Allegany County Public Safety Committee on June 3 that he would apply for two Bureau of Justice Assistance grants to establish dedicated narcotics and traffic enforcement units and asked the committee to approve submitting the applications.
Cicirello said the $600,000 narcotics grant would fund a dedicated Narcotics Enforcement and Interdiction Unit with specialized personnel, enforcement vehicles, covert surveillance equipment and a narcotics-detection K9, and that the effort would partner with Probation and the District Attorney’s Office. He cited county overdose data since 2020 — 217 drug overdoses and 41 deaths — and said Narcan had been administered in the field 164 times. “We will never solve the drug problem, but we must add accountability and consequences to those committing crimes,” Cicirello said.
On a separate application, Cicirello described a $650,000 request to create a Traffic Enforcement and Highway Safety Unit aimed at reducing crashes and fatalities linked to drunk, drugged, distracted and aggressive driving. He said the unit would support data-driven enforcement, high-visibility patrols, LPR systems and expanded deputy training.
Both applications were approved by the committee and referred to Ways and Means; Legislator Dwight “Mike” Healy cast the lone recorded no vote on each request and warned the county must weigh affordability and ongoing costs. “The Sheriff’s budget accounts for 50 percent of County property taxes,” Healy said, arguing the Legislature should scrutinize long-term funding implications.
Sheriff Cicirello told the committee the county’s obligation would be limited to maintaining core personnel and administrative support while the units would pursue diversified funding, asset forfeiture revenue and future grants to sustain operations. He also said the NYS Police Violent Gang and Narcotics Enforcement Team does not maintain a full-time presence in Allegany County and that local departments have offered letters of support for the proposal.
Next steps: the committee approved applying for both BJA grants; final acceptance and appropriation of funds would require a subsequent Board resolution if the grants are awarded.
