Sheriff’s Dept. and Feds Works Together in Putnam
Putnam might be one of the smallest counties in New York State, but that doesn’t mean its law enforcement doesn’t work with federal authorities on certain crimes occurring in the community.
Sheriff Robert Langley appeared in front of the county Legislature during a protective services committee meeting last Wednesday to explain the work the sheriff ’s department does with the federal government.
Langley said one of the most important crimes the sheriff ’s department works with Homeland Security on are human trafficking and child pornography. Federal law enforcement has more information on those two types of cases than local authorities, Langley said.
In 2018, there were two confirmed human trafficking cases, Langley said. “It’s not very pretty,” he said about these types of crimes. “Working with Homeland Security really opens your eyes to what’s going on in your community.”
When dealing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Langley said the agency usually comes into the county “under the cover of darkness.”
“And I respect that,” Langley, a Democrat, said. “They’re coming, they’re doing what they have to do. This is their job and I appreciate the services they’re providing.”
When a person is processed into the county jail, their information goes into a system that reveals if an immigration detainer is attached to their name, Langley said, and ICE is then notified. The sheriff ’s department will let ICE know when the person is being released if the agency wants to send personnel to pick him or her up by that date, Langley said. If a person makes bail, it is harder to hold them for federal authorities because a detainer is not the same as a warrant, Langley said.
It is a civil rights violation if a person is simply held on a detainer indefinitely, which could result in a lawsuit against the county, Langley said.
“We do everything we can to cooperate with ICE,” Langley said.
