Onondaga County Sheriff's Office

Today we remember Syracuse Police Detective Wallie Howard Jr., who was killed in the line of duty on October 30, 1990. On the anniversary of his passing, we mourn with his family, friends and our brothers and sisters in SPD. It is especially difficult today with the timing of his killers release. May his memory and sacrifice never be forgotten.

Today is National First Responders Day. National First Responders Day recognizes the heroic men and women who make it their business to take immediate action when disaster strikes. We want to thank you for everything you do to serve our community firefighters, paramedics, police, sheriff, 911 dispatchers and more.. we salute you!

The Onondaga County Sheriff's Office wishes to recognize and congratulate Lori Hable on her retirement following a distinguished career. Included in her many years of service to Onondaga County, was time spent working in the Sheriff's Office, where she was employed as an Administrative Assistant assigned to the Criminalistics Section for many years before moving to the Communications/Information Section. She would later accept an offer of employment with the Department of Com...munications-911, where she remained connected to public safety in several ways, often taking on assignments beyond her normal duties. She is described as the consummate professional by all who have worked with her. Her meticulous attention to detail, cheerful personality, dedication and commitment is evident by her long tenure of service to the citizens of Onondaga County. The members of the Sheriff's Office extend our deep appreciation for her support, past and present. Congratulations, we wish you the absolute best in your retirement from Onondaga County.

The Contest Deadline is Fast Approaching! One week from today, three kids will win #spooktacular prizes. See below for details. ... Kids Halloween Costume Contest It’s time to celebrate all things spooky! Halloween brings screams, treats and lots of fun. That’s why we’ve decided to hold a Kids’ Halloween Costume Contest. Children ages 0-15 can enter for a chance to win a #spooktacular prize! Costume Contest Categories Most Cutest Most Scariest Most Creative HOW TO SUBMIT: Onondaga County residents can submit photos of their child’s Halloween costume by emailing it to [email protected]. Please include your child’s name, age and contact information. Winners will be posted on our Facebook page on October 31st. Contest ends at 12:00 PM on October 30th, 2020. Good Luck Everyone.

We are sad to learn of the passing of retired Lieutenant Gary Jones. Lieutenant Jones retired in 1998 after serving for 25 years. His career included assignments to Patrol, Special Investigations, Criminal Investigations and as Commander of the Criminalistics Section. A recipient of the Medal of Distinction, he embodied the values of professionalism, dedication to duty, fairness and a deep desire to protect and serve the community. We extend our sincere condolences to his family. May he rest in peace.

A SAFE HALLOWEEN IS A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

National Teen Driver Safety Week begins today! Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S. Make sure you’ve established the #RulesForTheRoad to keep them safe. 1 RISK TAKING-Don’t do something you’ll regret for the rest of your life. Car crashes are the leading cause of injury and death for teens. And it’s not just about you: Crashes affect pedestrians, passengers and other drivers, as well as their families. 2 TEXTING & TALKING-Focus on drivin...g. Texting increases crash risk by 23 times. Talking on a cell phone while driving can double reaction time. Save the texting, phone calls and other gadgets for after the driving is done. 3 UN-BUCKLED-Use a safety belt and insist that all your passengers do so as well. About two-thirds of teens killed in vehicle crashes were not wearing safety belts. Wearing a seat belt reduces your chances of being hurt or killed in a crash by 45 percent. 4 MUSIC-Turn the music off while learning to drive. Adjusting the radio or cd player or searching your iPod are common distractions for teen drivers. 5 SPEED-Stick to the speed limit. One-third of teen fatalities involve speeding. Obeying the speed limit reduces the severity of a crash you can’t avoid. 6 ROWDY RIDERS-Don’t load up your car with friends. Adding one teen passenger to a vehicle increases a teen driver’s crash risk by about 50 percent. With two or more teen passengers, the crash risk is fivefold. 7 DUI/DRUGS-Stay sober and drug-free. The risk of involvement in a motor vehicle crash is greater for teens under the influence of alcohol or drugseven prescription drugs. 8 LATE NIGHT DRIVING-Teen crash rates at night (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.) are twice as high as daytime rates. Obey parental curfews. 9 PEER PRESSURE-Make good choices and don’t be afraid to speak up. Before you get in the car with a friend, ask: Is this a person you trust? Is he in the right frame of mind to drive safely? Are you prepared to speak up if he drives dangerously? 10 OVERCONFIDENCE-Overconfidence can lead to crashes when new drivers encounter unfamiliar or unexpected situations. Parents should supervise and monitor their teen driverseven after they get their license.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the men and women of Syracuse Police Department and the friends and family of Detective William LaShomb. Rest In Peace and thank you for your Service!

Congratulations to Deputy Sean Andrews, Deputy Jeremy Butler and Detective Michael Walton on their promotion today to the rank of Sergeant.

Kids Halloween Costume Contest It’s time to celebrate all things spooky! Halloween brings screams, treats and lots of fun. That’s why we’ve decided to hold a Kids’ Halloween Costume Contest. Children ages 0-15 can enter for a chance to win a #spooktacular prize! Costume Contest Categories... Most Cutest Most Scariest Most Creative HOW TO SUBMIT: Onondaga County residents can submit photos of their child’s Halloween costume by emailing it to [email protected]. Please include your child’s name, age and contact information. Winners will be posted on our Facebook page on October 31st. Contest ends at 12:00 PM on October 30th, 2020. Good Luck Everyone.

Weather Alert Reports of numerous trees and wires down throughout Onondaga County due to heavy winds and severe thunderstorm. If you should come across downed wires, stay at least 30 feet away (at least two full pole spans) and keep others from going near them as well. Call 911 immediately.

Fire Prevention Week 2020 kicked off yesterday. This year’s theme is Serving up fire safety in the kitchen. Kitchen fires are the leading cause of home fires and home fire injuries in the United States! Be sure to check out your local fire department’s Facebook page to educate yourself on cooking hazards, the dangers of unattended cooking, and precautions you can take to prevent cooking-related fires. Amber Fire & EMS Apulia Volunteer Fire Company Inc. Baldwinsville Vol. Fi...re Company Belgium Cold Springs Fire Department Borodino Fire Department Brewerton Fire Department Bridgeport Fire Department Camillus Volunteer Fire Department Caughdenoy Volunteer Fire Department Cicero Fire Department Clay Fire Department Cody Fire Department Delphi Falls Fire Department Open House DeWitt Fire District East Syracuse Fire Department Elbridge Fire Department Fabius Fire Department Fairmount Fire Department Fayetteville Fire & EMS Hinsdale Volunteer Fire Department Howlett Hill Fire Volunteer Department Jamesville Fire Department Jordan Fire Department Kirkville Fire Company LaFayette Fire Department - NY Lakeside Fire District Liverpool Fire Department Lyncourt Fire Department Lysander Fire Department Manlius Fire and EMS Marcellus Fire Department Mattydale Fire Department Minoa Fire Department Mottville Fire Department Moyers Corners Fire Department Nedrow Volunteer Fire Department Inc. North Syracuse Fire Department Onondaga Hill Fire Department Onondaga Nation Vol. Fire Department Otisco Fire Department Phoenix Enterprise Fire Company #1 Plainville (NY) Fire Department Pompey Hill Fd Seneca River Fire Department Sentinel Heights Fire Department Skaneateles Volunteer Fire Department Solvay Fire Department South Bay Fire Department South Onondaga Fire Department Southwood Volunteer Fire Dept/ Spafford Fire Dept Taunton Fire Department Tully Fire & EMS Warners-Memphis Fire Department See more

Today we bid farewell to Special Assistant George Manolis, who officially retired from the Correction Department after serving over 30 years. As a token of appreciation, the office dedicated Manolis Parkway to him. an internal roadway at the Correction facility. Congratulations!