With nearly 40 years of law enforcement experience, Columbia County Sheriff David P. Bartlett has committed his life to serving the people of Columbia County. 

Since taking office in 2013, Sheriff Bartlett has kept our communities safe. He has employed new technologies and policing strategies, forged new relationships with law enforcement partners, and developed new programs and initiatives that have improved safety while strengthening the bond between police and the community.  Learn more about Sheriff Bartlett.

Since taking office, Sheriff Bartlett has...

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• Put Deputy Sheriffs in area schools through a new School Resource Deputy program.

 

• Implemented a first of its kind Narcan Response Plan to treat opioid overdoses.

 

• Bolstered recruitment efforts for Deputy Sheriff and Correctional Officer civil service examinations.

 

• Implemented a new Vivitrol program to aid inmates addicted to heroin in their recovery upon release from jail.

 

• Partnered with COARC to provide opportunities for individuals receiving COARC’s services through their Community Employment Program, an initiative that partners individuals receiving services with area businesses. Participants work within the business’ day-to-day operation, and in turn receive important life and employment experience.  

 

• Upgraded equipment and readiness, including acquisition of a new Boston Whaler 24’ patrol vessel for the Marine Unit. This vessel, which is valued at $125,000.00, was financed by the US Coast Guard Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund for improving recreational boating safety on the waterways in Columbia County.

 

• Launched a new County alarm registration management system.

 

• Installed medication return boxes at the Public Safety Building to allow residents to safely discard unwanted medications.

 

• Attained accreditation of the Sheriff’s Civil Office; achieved accreditation in the Civil Administration in 2015 and Security Services Divisions (Court Security) in 2017.

 

• Implemented the Enhanced Child Care Visit for Children of Incarcerated Parents program, in partnership with the Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood, to allow for enhanced visits between qualifying inmates and their young children.

 

• Upgraded the department’s website and social media presence to improve communications with residents of Columbia County.

 

• Re-Entry Columbia County Programs, designed to help inmates successfully rejoin their community by guiding and supporting them throughout their transition from jail back into the community.
  • Anger Management Classes
  • Parenting Classes
  • Yoga Classes
  • Financial Education Classes
  • Quilting Classes

 

• EA Morse Janitorial / Painting Program / OSHA, teaching inmates the trades of janitorial work and painting, and are certified in OSHA.

 

• Expansion of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office Inmate Work Crew, where sentenced inmates with good behavior work in the community helping with snow shoveling, mowing, painting, etc.

 

• Established an Inmate Services Benefit Coordinator to connect inmates with housing, medical, transportation, or any services as they transition back to civilian life.

 

• Creation of the Columbia County Jail Recovery Dorm, to provide inmates who have alcohol and drug addiction, a specially created space for recovery with extra counseling and services to help them continue their recovery when released.

 

• Expanded the Sheriff’s Office DARE program by expanding the program to 8th grade students, creating a second DARE Officer and reinstituted the program to Chatham School District.

 

• Implemented a Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training program to provide civilians with strategies and guidance for surviving an active shooter event.

 

• Provided Columbia County schools with “Stop the Bleed” kits and related training; used to equip and educate bystanders on life-saving techniques to stop serious bleeding. This program was funded with monies seized from drug dealers, at no cost to taxpayers.

 

• Procurement of a state-of-the-art Mobile Command Vehicle, paid for with grant funds, at no cost to taxpayers.

 

• In collaboration with area towns and municipalities, established Satellite Offices in strategically located towns around Columbia County. These Satellite Offices and Substations include the fully staffed substation in Hillsdale, as well as the offices in Valatie and Germantown where report for their shift each day.

 

• COVID Senior Checks, a program implemented in the early stages of the pandemic, has Deputy Sheriff’s stop by and physically check on senior citizens that subscribe to the service. This service has been provided daily, uninterrupted, since established in 2020.
  

 

• Purchase of Unmanned Aerial System units (Drones) and training of Sheriff’s Office pilots to aid in search and rescue incidents, locating missing persons, assisting with crime, accident and incident documentation as well as using thermal imaging in night searches. The high powered camera has also been used to map flood plains and take pictures of failing dams / structures in Columbia County and to aid Fire Departments with the thermal imaging to search for “hot spots” at fire scenes.

 

• Procured and installed Cameras in Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles to capture evidence, and increase transparency and accountability.

 

• Working with the Columbia County Police Reform Panel and the Board of Supervisors, equipped every uniformed Deputy Sheriff with a body worn camera that, like the in-car cameras, will help to improve transparency and accountability.

 

• Expansion of the Project Lifesaver program, an initiative whose mission is to provide timely response to save lives and reduce potential injury for adults and children who wander due to Alzheimer’s, autism, and other related conditions or disorders. The program has been expanded to include 48 current participants.

 

• Purchase of a Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) that is used for search and rescue, assisting fire departments and EMS crews with gaining entry to remote locations, and patrol off-road areas. The UTV, purchased with grant funds at no cost to taxpayers, also aids in patrolling large public gatherings and responding to incidents on public walking/biking trails.

 

• Worked to promote and improve interagency cooperation with all public safety departments.