Chemung County Legislator Rodney J. Strange continued an annual New Year’s Eve tradition of riding along with law enforcement during routine patrols.
Strange spent the last 10 hours of 2017 and the first few hours of 2018 with the deputies of the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office. Strange, who is a member of the Legislature’s Corrections and Law Enforcement Committee, believes that it is valuable experience for him to see firsthand what deputies encounter every day.
“As a member of the legislature, I am asked to vote on things that affect the deputies and Sheriff’s Office frequently. I believe it is my responsibility to do whatever I can to learn about and develop and understanding of job our officers do so I can make the best decisions I can for them and the residents of our county,” Strange said.
This was the fourth ride along he has done with the Sheriff’s Office since becoming a legislator. Last year he spent a 12 hour shift on patrol with the Elmira Police Dept.
Strange has also spent four shifts with the County Highway Dept. plowing during two major snow storms and sat in on two shifts at the County’s 911 Communications Center.