To the Editor:

As Sheriff of St. Lawrence County, I am endorsing Susan Duffy for State Assembly to represent the 116th Assembly District.

Susan Duffy is devoted to the law enforcement community and understands that New York needs to enact real reforms to make neighborhoods safe including repealing the HALT law, which has made correctional facilities more dangerous; bringing back sensible bail laws; and ending the catch and release laws that put violent offenders back on the streets. These reforms were rushed by New York State with virtually no input from law enforcement agencies and with little or no consideration given to the victims of the crimes committed.

Susan Duffy supports the men and women in law enforcement, and multiple law enforcement unions have endorsed Susan's candidacy including the St. Lawrence County Deputies Association, Road Patrol and Detectives; Council 82, Local 2390 St. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office Correctional Officers, Cooks and Records Officers; Council 82, Law Enforcement Officers Union, representing 3,000 police officers, deputy sheriffs, county corrections officers, state corrections lieutenants, emergency dispatchers and other public safety personnel across New York State; Council 82, Local 3089 Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Correctional Officers; and Council 82, Local 2951 State Corrections Lieutenants Union, representing Riverview and Cape Vincent Correctional Facility.

I am pleased to provide my support for Ms. Duffy, and am confident she will fight to assure the North Country is not forgotten in Albany.

Sheriff Brooks Bigwarfe
St. Lawrence County