Sheriff Loughren takes position in Florida
NORWICH – It was a surprise to the vice chairman of the Chenango County Safety & Rules Committee to learn this morning that Sheriff Thomas Loughren had accepted a job on an Indian reservation in southern Florida.
“Oh really?” asked Janice O’Shea, R-Coventry.
Other county supervisors were seemingly also left out in the dark about the longtime Sheriff’s plans to move on. He was scheduled to return to work on May 23 after vacationing for a month in Florida.
City of Norwich Supervisor Linda E. Natoli and Town of Guilford Supervisor Robert Briggs said they had “overheard” that Loughren would be leaving, but didn’t know any of the details.
“I thought that he would be going sooner or later. It was just a feeling that I had, that he had been thinking more toward retirement,” said Briggs.
Calls to Loughren’s new post as police chief of the Miccosukee Police Department were routed to an extension, and an answering machine picked up. They were not returned. Nedra Darling, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, confirmed that Loughren had accepted his new position on Monday.
Because the reservation contracts for services for law enforcement and operates its own police force, Darling said she didn’t know whether it was an issue for them to have hired someone already employed elsewhere.
“We provide the money; they do their own hiring,” she said.
Loughren previously worked for the Miccosukee Police Department/ U.S. Bureau of the Interior in Miami, Fla. from 1983 to 1989.
Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors Richard B. Decker, R-N. Norwich, said this morning that he had heard “a few rumors” about Loughren, but didn’t know the details, either. Decker said he would be meeting with him as soon as he gets back.
“He told me in late April when he left that he wanted to talk to me when he came back,” Decker said. “I assumed that that was what it was about.”
Briggs said the Sheriff leaves behind “a well-oiled” department, one that is “well taken care of” with a staff that is “well trained.” Though he couldn’t confirm that 23-year veteran Undersheriff Ernie Cutting would assume command of the department, Briggs said this morning that Cutting would be his guess.
“I certainly would recommend him. I think he’s done a great job for the county for the past several years. He’s the person for the job.”
Decker also did not confirm that the undersheriff would assume Loughren’s post.
After learning this morning that Loughren had accepted the position in Florida, District Attorney Joseph A. McBride said, “He’s done an outstanding job since accepting the office in 1991 and obviously we’re going to miss him. He’s been an intricate part of Chenango County’s political and law enforcement landscape and he will be sorely missed along with his wife, Donna.”
A town of Oxford native, Loughren has an extensive resumé in law enforcement that began with the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in 1971. In 1980, having obtained the rank of Master Sergeant, he took a leave of absence from the office to obtain a bachelor’s of science degree in criminal justice.
After his stint on the Indian reservation, Loughren was later transferred to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Two years later, he decided to return home to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, where he successfully ran for Sheriff in November of 1991.
Loughren has received several awards and commendations as a law enforcement officer, including Police Officer of the Year award. He is active with the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, having served as its president and currently serves on the executive committee.
While serving as Sheriff, Loughren expanded the county department and oversaw its move from the 100-plus year old jail and office buildings in the city of Norwich to a more modern jail and public safety facility south of the city.
The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida dates back 100 years. It has about 600 members. The tribe was once part of the Seminole Tribe and is also descended from the Creek national tribe. The Miccosukee operate a casino.
Staff Writer Tyler Murphy contributed to this story.
“Oh really?” asked Janice O’Shea, R-Coventry.
Other county supervisors were seemingly also left out in the dark about the longtime Sheriff’s plans to move on. He was scheduled to return to work on May 23 after vacationing for a month in Florida.
City of Norwich Supervisor Linda E. Natoli and Town of Guilford Supervisor Robert Briggs said they had “overheard” that Loughren would be leaving, but didn’t know any of the details.
“I thought that he would be going sooner or later. It was just a feeling that I had, that he had been thinking more toward retirement,” said Briggs.
Calls to Loughren’s new post as police chief of the Miccosukee Police Department were routed to an extension, and an answering machine picked up. They were not returned. Nedra Darling, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs, confirmed that Loughren had accepted his new position on Monday.
Because the reservation contracts for services for law enforcement and operates its own police force, Darling said she didn’t know whether it was an issue for them to have hired someone already employed elsewhere.
“We provide the money; they do their own hiring,” she said.
Loughren previously worked for the Miccosukee Police Department/ U.S. Bureau of the Interior in Miami, Fla. from 1983 to 1989.
Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors Richard B. Decker, R-N. Norwich, said this morning that he had heard “a few rumors” about Loughren, but didn’t know the details, either. Decker said he would be meeting with him as soon as he gets back.
“He told me in late April when he left that he wanted to talk to me when he came back,” Decker said. “I assumed that that was what it was about.”
Briggs said the Sheriff leaves behind “a well-oiled” department, one that is “well taken care of” with a staff that is “well trained.” Though he couldn’t confirm that 23-year veteran Undersheriff Ernie Cutting would assume command of the department, Briggs said this morning that Cutting would be his guess.
“I certainly would recommend him. I think he’s done a great job for the county for the past several years. He’s the person for the job.”
Decker also did not confirm that the undersheriff would assume Loughren’s post.
After learning this morning that Loughren had accepted the position in Florida, District Attorney Joseph A. McBride said, “He’s done an outstanding job since accepting the office in 1991 and obviously we’re going to miss him. He’s been an intricate part of Chenango County’s political and law enforcement landscape and he will be sorely missed along with his wife, Donna.”
A town of Oxford native, Loughren has an extensive resumé in law enforcement that began with the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in 1971. In 1980, having obtained the rank of Master Sergeant, he took a leave of absence from the office to obtain a bachelor’s of science degree in criminal justice.
After his stint on the Indian reservation, Loughren was later transferred to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office. Two years later, he decided to return home to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, where he successfully ran for Sheriff in November of 1991.
Loughren has received several awards and commendations as a law enforcement officer, including Police Officer of the Year award. He is active with the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, having served as its president and currently serves on the executive committee.
While serving as Sheriff, Loughren expanded the county department and oversaw its move from the 100-plus year old jail and office buildings in the city of Norwich to a more modern jail and public safety facility south of the city.
The Miccosukee Tribe of Florida dates back 100 years. It has about 600 members. The tribe was once part of the Seminole Tribe and is also descended from the Creek national tribe. The Miccosukee operate a casino.
Staff Writer Tyler Murphy contributed to this story.
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