NORWICH – The time is right for a change, said Chenango County Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren Tuesday upon formally announcing his decision to step down from his post on June 8.
The Oxford native and 28-year veteran of the county Sheriff’s Office told reporters attending a press conference at the Public Safety Facility that it has been “the greatest honor of my life” to serve the community.
“We’ve had many very high-profile murder cases here and I take great pride in the convictions. I leave a staff much better than I ever was at the beginning when I used to micromanage everything. The folks are good here. The politicians have supported me, and I will miss, without a doubt, my staff,” he said.
Loughren, who is 57, made headlines two weeks ago when another news outlet discovered he had been sworn into a new post as police chief for the Miccosukee Police Department in Miami, Fla. While some county lawmakers were privy to the Sheriff’s intentions, several expressed surprise at his rapid decision to accept a new job.
Loughren said he had intended to officially notify the public upon his return from a month-long Florida vacation. He told reporters that he was not “the retiring type” and was solicited for the new position. He was a federal and state law enforcement officer with the Miccosukee Police Department back in the early 80s and with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in 1989.
Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Richard B. Decker, R-North Norwich, said Tuesday evening that he was unaware that the Sheriff had held the media conference yesterday, and said he did not know what date Loughren would leave his post.
“Nobody notified me of the press conference,” said Decker, “but I’m technically not his boss. He’s elected; it’s not like he’s an employee.”
Decker said that a representative of New York State Governor David Paterson’s office called last Friday in regards to the media reports about Loughren accepting a new job. He said state law mandates county officials to report such retirements to the state.
“She was wondering why we hadn’t told her. I told her that he (Loughren) hadn’t resigned yet. I guess I’ll have to call back and say it’ll be on June 8,” said Decker.
In 1991, Loughren won a three-way primary race for county Sheriff and started his career in January of 1992. During his 18 years in office, he obtained grants and equipment and cut-back on expenses from farming out prisoners in order to keep the century-old headquarters and jail in downtown Norwich operational for 10 years longer than anticipated. He implemented the Sheriff’s Summer Camp program for youths, successfully acquired New York State accreditation for all four divisions of the Sheriff’s Office, and opened three satellite stations in South Otselic, the Village of New Berlin and the Town of Coventry.
Under his leadership, the agency initiated a K-9 program, began administering snowmobile and navigation patrols throughout the county and developed a major crime investigation unit.
The Sheriff supervised the design, construction and the completion of the new Public Safety Facility that opened in 2005 and is actively involved in the planning, design and construction of the new countywide emergency management radio system that is scheduled to be completed in 2009.
Loughren is a past president of the New York State Sheriff’s Association and serves as the vice chairman of the executive committee. He is an original member of the New York State Counter Terrorism Committee that was formed after the attacks of Sept. 11. He also serves as a member of the National Sheriff’s Association counter terrorism committee. Loughren is an original board member of the New York State 911 Board and serves on the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Council.
Though he said he doesn’t like to look back, Loughren said the second trial of the Peter M. Wlasiuk case was especially difficult for him. The case gained the nation’s attention through television shows that focused in on forensic evidence gathering and other intricate details.
“You eat and sleep these cases. You have to remember that we sit down with the families and friends of murdered people and talk to them personally and often. I know first hand the number of sacrifices that my fellow employees have made to make our community safer,” he said.
“This is what being Sheriff is all about: helping people, solving their problems and protecting families.”
The American Indian tribe operates the Miccosukee Resort & Casino in Miami. The reservation includes a portion of Everglades in Broward County along Alligator Alley as well as land in Dade County near Miami.