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Providing adequate public safety in the way of police and fire protection is taken to heart in the region. Residents and politicians alike pride themselves on the safety of the region.
Police Protection
Each county has a Sheriff and corresponding department. The Sheriff is the head law enforcement official in each county, though the responsibilities of the departments vary in each county. In Chautauqua and Cattaraugus Counties, the Sheriff’s department is the primary source for law enforcement. This involves a large corps of deputies to uphold the law through patrols and manpower at crime scenes. In Allegany County, the Sheriff’s department is rather small. Its primary objective is to operate the county jail, and provide little assistance in patrols and crime fighting. Instead each village has its own police department to provide safety to its citizens. In the other counties it is also common to have city and village police, but not to the extent as in Allegany County.
The NYS Police also have a presence in each county. Their barracks are located in various communities throughout the region. The State Police provide patrols and support to the Sheriff’s department.
Fire Protection
Adequate fire protection exists throughout the entire region. In larger communities, paid fire departments are staffed with full time professionals. In the more rural areas, volunteer departments are prevalent. All firefighters in the State are required to complete extensive training, resulting in highly qualified individuals manning the volunteer departments as well as the paid departments.
Area-wide mutual-aid partnerships exist in the entire region, and even cross state lines into Pennsylvania. These partnerships ensure adequate manpower and equipment at every incident. Dispatch of emergency personnel is handled by the individual counties through the E-911 system.
Both police and fire protection are services that you hope you never need, but when you do they better be there for you. In this case they are there, and they are the best. All police and emergency personnel in the region are highly qualified, and dedicated to their jobs or volunteer service.
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