ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a lawsuit against the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office for violating state law.
They claim the sheriff’s office has not notified the attorney general of a termination with their agreement with ICE. According to the attorney general’s office, the sheriff has maintained that agreement with ICE since March 2020.
“All law enforcement agencies are expected to uphold New York’s laws,” said James “The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office has been given every opportunity to follow the law, yet has chosen not to. My office is suing to enforce New York’s laws and ensure that local law enforcement agencies remain focused on their most fundamental responsibility: keeping New Yorkers safe.”
“Compliance with the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act is not optional. Rensselaer County’s failure to act in accordance with the law sends a clear message: these elected leaders are not serious about New Yorkers’ safety,” said Hochul “Today, we are taking action to ensure the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office performs the duties required of it under state law, because no one in New York State is above the law.”
Officials in Rensselaer County have made public statements in response. They said the governor’s office and attorney general “could take that letter, crumple it up, and shove it.”