2018 Ushers In New Era At Putnam County Sheriff's Office

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — The beginning of a new era started Friday afternoon as Robert L. Langley Jr. was sworn in as Putnam County Sheriff. Also sworn in at the ceremony at the historic Putnam Courthouse were County Legislator William Gouldman (District 2) and Legislator Toni Addonizio (District 3).

Outgoing Sheriff Donald Smith held that post for 19 years. Langley, a retired member of the department, narrowly defeated Smith's bid for a fifth term, by 341 votes.

On Friday, Smith issued a statement. It said, in part:

As my time as your Sheriff comes to a close, I take this opportunity to thank all of the people of Putnam County for all of your great support, hard work and faithful encouragement in helping the law enforcement and emergency services community in keeping Putnam County a great and safe place to live, work and raise a family.

I take this opportunity to also thank all of our fellow team members in the law enforcement and emergency services community for all of their support of our Sheriff’s Deputies, Correction Officers and our Support Staff during my tenure as Sheriff. Our members of law enforcement, our fire departments and our ambulance corps are truly the most hard working and dedicated professionals I know. Let me take this opportunity to say, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! It has been my great honor and privilege to have served with you these past 19 years as your Deputy County Executive and as your Sheriff. In remembering the words of the great Lou Gehrig, “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth” - having been given the opportunity to serve in two of the most noble professions, the United States Military and in the Office of Sheriff.

Over the weekend, Langley issued a statement as well:

I would like to thank Donald B. Smith for his 16 years of dedicated service as Putnam County Sheriff. He served all of the people who make Putnam home, as well as visitors to our wonderful County. Under Don's leadership, the Sheriff’s Office has grown and evolved in the protection of our community, and strong progress has been made by our law enforcement officers and emergency services. We have all benefited. I would like to wish Don well as he begins a new chapter in his life.

The turnover in the Sheriff's Office also includes six new people in leadership positions, named earlier.

The new Undersheriff, Michael F. Corrigan, has 34 years of law enforcement experience, including 21 years in the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department, 18 as a criminal investigator. The Carmel resident has also served on the police forces of the Village of Cold Spring and the Town of New Fairfield, Connecticut, as well the City of New York Department of Environmental Protection Police. Corrigan is a 1995 graduate of the 183rd Session of the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Five new Captains were named as the rest of the command team. The five, including the first female captain in the history of the Sheriff’s Office, each have an average of 25 years of law enforcement experience.

“I am very happy that we have assembled a command team with such deep and varied experience,” said Langley. “This is an incredible team that will elevate professionalism, raise standards, improve public safety, and return integrity to the Department. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office will be in good hands.”

The new captains are:

Jon T. Jennings, Captain, Bureau of Criminal Investigation
Jon Jennings currently serves as a Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, White Plains Office. Special Agent Jennings served as Acting Supervisory Agent of the FBI’s Organized Crime Squad, where he was Lead Case Agent on several multi-year, complex organized crime investigations. Over his 22 year career with the FBI, Special Agent Jennings investigated homicide, drug trafficking, racketeering, money laundering and weapons trafficking. Jennings was Lead Case Agent on multi-year complex organized crime investigations of the Genovese Crime Family, resulting in prosecution of over 100 defendants. Special Agent Jennings is an FBI Firearms Instructor.

Kevin M. Cheverko, Captain, Putnam County Jail
Kevin Cheverko currently serves as Commissioner of Correction, Westchester County Department of Correction. A 32-year Corrections veteran, Cheverko rose from Correction Officer, to Sergeant, to Captain, becoming Commissioner in 2010. As Commissioner, Cheverko oversees the operation of the Westchester County Jail, including its Inmate Programs, Gang Intelligence Unit, Special Housing Unit, and National Accreditation. The Westchester County Jail, which is larger than the Putnam County Jail by almost tenfold, has a capacity of 1,800 inmates. Commissioner Cheverko has received national and local accreditations and commendations for the Westchester County Jail by the United States Department of Justice, the New York State Commission of Correction, and the American Correctional Association. Among other goals, Cheverko will work to have the Putnam County Jail nationally accredited.

Lisa Ortolano, Esq., Captain, Civil Division
Lisa Ortolano brings over 27 years of criminal and civil law experience as a career prosecutor, defense attorney, and civil litigator. Ortolano served as a Supervisor of the Bronx County District Attorney’s Criminal Court Bureau and as Deputy Bureau Chief, where she supervised over 60 attorneys in the prosecution of violent felony offenses, domestic violence, and drug- related crimes. Ortolano also trained Assistant District Attorneys in litigation and ethics. Ms. Ortolano joined the Putnam County District Attorney’s Office in 2009, and served as First Assistant District Attorney, providing essential leadership in the office and and supervising Assistant District Attorneys in the prosecution of cases.

Edward W. Swarm, Jr., Captain, Road Patrol
Edward Swarm served for 24 years with the New York City Police Department, rising from Patrol Officer, to Sergeant, to Lieutenant of Detectives. Mr. Swarm led an Impact Unit, rotating in high crime areas, responding to major crimes. As a Platoon Commander, Swarm managed all command operations in his Precinct, deploying officers in response to emergencies. After being promoted to Lieutenant of Detectives, Swarm managed a team of 20 detectives, supervising criminal investigations from robbery to homicide. Swarm served as a Patrol Supervisor, where he managed police officers and coverage, and as Anti-Crime Supervisor, targeting high crime areas. Swarm led a team of plainclothes officers on patrols to arrest suspects in the act of committing crimes.

James Babcock, Captain, Communications
James Babcock served in the Putnam County Sheriff's Department from 1993 until 2016. While serving in the Road Patrol Division, Babcock was selected as a Field Training Officer, and in 2008 was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. He also was a member of the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit and the Emergency Response Team during his tenure in the division. In 2011 Sergeant Babcock was selected for the position of Criminal Investigator and assigned to Bureau of Criminal Investigations. Investigator Babcock was selected to attend and complete numerous training opportunities given by FBI, New York City Police Department and the New York State Police. Additionally, Babcock serves as a Senior Non-Commissioned Officer with the 105th Air Wing Communications Flight at New York Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York, a military career with over 20 years of service.

PHOTO: Putnam County Sheriff Robert L. Langley Jr. and County Undersheriff Michael F. Corrigan at the swearing-in ceremony Dec. 29, 2017 / Lydia J.A. Langley