EDUCATION

 

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A prestigious course of study for recognized law enforcement leaders, in which participation is by invitation only through a highly selective nomination process. This 10-week residential program serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide.  Derek is the only person from within the Sheriff’s Office to be selected for this honor.

 

B.S. Community & Human Services;

Criminal Justice                                           

SUNY-Empire State College

Saratoga, NY                                                                                    

 

A.A.S. Business Administration                                                                                 

SUNY-Tompkins Cortland Community College

Dryden, NY

 

EXPERIENCE

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Sheriff                                                                          

Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca, NY

 

Elected Tompkins County Sheriff - November 2018

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Physical Operations Manager

CFCU Community Credit Union, Ithaca, NY

 

Responsible for Physical Security, Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Management. Assist in the identification of potential risks and ensure a proper response to those that effect business operations. 

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Social Services Coordinator

Firetree Ltd., Syracuse, NY

 

Derek provided quality transitional and reintegration services to individuals associated with the criminal justice system.  I networked and built positive relationships with various community resources in order to find mental health, substance abuse, employment training, family counseling, and other social service referrals to aid federal inmates in community re-entry and in reducing the risk of recidivism.

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Undersheriff                                                                             

Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca, NY

 

As Undersheriff, Derek was second-in-command of the entire organization consisting of 90 employees, both sworn and civilian comprising Law Enforcement, Corrections, Investigations, and Civil & Records divisions, and an operating budget of approximately $9-million.

 

• Developed and implemented all policy & procedure in use by the Law Enforcement & Investigations Divisions in accordance with Accreditation Standards for best practice.

• Created and supervised the agency’s first-ever “Training & Equipment” unit responsible for field training, in-service training, and the proper inventory and maintenance of agency equipment

• Instituted employee Awards program and other motivational incentives.

• Routinely invented and pursued organizational changes leading to significant cost-savings.

• Wrote all grant applications and managed subsequent award compliance requirements.

• Established Neighborhood Watch program and created agency’s first automated tip-line.

• Established the agency's Project Lifesaver program.

• Developed agency motto of, “Honor, Pride and Integrity” and accompanying value statement.

 

Captain                                                                                      

Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca, NY

 

As Captain of the Law Enforcement Division, Derek was third-in-command and managed the entire Law Enforcement operation to include Road Patrol and Criminal Investigations.

 

• Organized and led multiple enforcement details, security events, and grant funded projects.

• Motivated staff in the achievement of optimal performance measures.

• Implemented new scheduling software and was responsible for managing adequate staffing levels.

• Served as Public Relations officer, created agency website and handled media interviews.

 

Senior Criminal Investigator (Lt.)                                         

Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca, NY

 

As Senior Investigator, Derek was in charge of the Criminal Investigations Division which consisted of four subordinate investigators.

 

• Supervised all major incidences and complex investigations, many involving multiple agencies.

• Managed overall case load, assigned cases, and reviewed and approved case closures.

• Served as Evidence Custodian for the agency and revamped the entire evidence management system.

• Prepared and presented major case PowerPoint to world-renown Forensic Pathologist Michael Baden MD.

 

Criminal Investigator                                                              

Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca, NY

 

• Investigated a variety of felony-level cases, to include property crimes, sexual abuse, assault, larceny, and fraud.

• Processed crime scenes, collected & logged evidence, conducting interviews and interrogations.

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Deputy Sheriff                                                                         

Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office, Ithaca, NY

 

• Responded to all calls for service, to include domestic incidences, property crimes, motor-vehicle collisions, etc.

• Interviewed witnesses, victims and suspects and took depositions & voluntary statements.

• Enforced local and State laws.

 

Patrolman                                                                         

City of Cortland Police Department, Cortland, NY

 

• Responded to all calls for service, to include domestic incidences, property crimes, motor-vehicle collisions, etc.

• Enforced local and State laws.

 

MILITARY SERVICE

 

U.S. Army Reserve                                                                   

403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, Mattydale, NY

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• Administrative Specialist (71L), Civil Affairs Specialist (38A).

• High Honor Graduate.

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

Not Just a Job:  Does your uniform represent your life calling, or are you simply wearing a costume?

December 2010

Law and Order, The Magazine for Police Management

Guest Editorial

Vol. 58, No. 12

 

LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING & CERTIFICATIONS   

***CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE ROSTER***

 

• Field Training Officer, General Topics Instructor, Firearms Instructor, ASP Baton.

• Basic Investigators Course, Sexual Assault Investigation & Prosecution, Equivocal Death & Cold Case Homicide Investigation, Fire & Arson Investigation, Colonel Henry F. Williams Homicide Seminar.

• Police Crime Scene & Evidence Specialist Course

• The Reid Method of Criminal Interviews and Interrogation

• Police Crime Scene and Evidence Specialist Course

• NIMS Incident Management (I-300, I-400)

• Public Information Officer

• Basic Supervisor’s Course

• SWAT I & II

• Crime Prevention

 

AWARDS

 

• Paul Harris Fellow for Community Service – Rotary International (Ithaca Rotary).

• Tompkins County Law Enforcement Officer of the Month (2 separate occasions) – Ithaca Kiwanis.

   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

In 2011, Derek was selected by Rotary International (Ithaca Rotary) to participate in a group study exchange program that allowed him the opportunity to spend an entire month in Taiwan where he was able to represent U.S. law enforcement to our counterparts in that country.