Anonymous wrote:

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  DENNIS STIERER/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Niagara County Sheriff Thomas A. Beilein, center, standing, stops to talk with some of the members of the Niagara County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol Division. From left, are Al Flessel on JR, Click on photo for larger imageHorses on paradeBy Mark Lindsay / lindsaym@gnnewspaper.comThursday, June 17, 2004They patrol the Niagara County Fair, area parades, various community fairs and other events.They also provide extra patrol in the mall parking lots in the area during the busy holiday season. And it’s all done on a volunteer basis.They’re the Niagara County Sheriff’s Mounted Patrol Division.The Mounted Patrol division currently has about eight riders to handle about 25 events per year. Al Flessel, a peace officer on the patrol, said all of the riders own their own horse, truck and trailer, and they are responsible for maintaining them.The Sheriff’s Department provides equipment necessary for the job, such as a saddle and bridle for the horses and uniforms and helmets for the officers. Sheriff Thomas Beilein said he appreciates the patrol’s service to the community. “They’re really a good resource for the county,” Beilein said, adding they take time out of their own lives and do a lot of training and work with the horses. “A lot goes into it,” said Tom Chiappone, also a peace officer. But the patrol could use more riders to join them, and that’s part of the reason for a June 26 chicken chowder sale at Chiappone Cellars Winery, 3401 Murphy Road, Newfane. Proceeds from the sale will help upgrade and purchase some equipment. Applications will also be available at the sale. “We’re seeking members who are ‘horse people,’ ” said Flessel, which he said means experienced riders with discipline.  

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Estimates

Uniform and helmet for one rider - $400

Saddle and bridle - $500

$900 per mounted rider X 8 riders = cost to taxpayer of $7200

That's a lot of chicken chowder!

It appears Gary Hayes isn't alone regarding his plan to scale back road patrols and shift policing to the towns and villages, saving substantial tax dollars by reducing salaries and benefits.

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Buffalo News

Published on December 13, 2002

THOMAS J. PROHASKA - News Niagara Bureau

Niagara County Sheriff's Department road patrols will continue to be funded by the county -- at least for a while.

County Legislature Majority Leader Samuel P. Granieri said Thursday that he and a colleague are withdrawing their proposal to do away with road patrols Jan. 1, except for towns that sign a contract to pay the county for them.

According to this story, apparently Sheriff Beilein *is* in favor of shifting responsibility for law enforcement to the local towns and villages!

All in favor of Sheriff Beilein taking more sick time say "Aye"

_______________________________________________________________________

Buffalo News
Published on August 28, 2003

THOMAS J. PROHASKA - News Niagara Bureau

Q: Ok, who are we blaming here?

A: Sheriff Beilein

Buffalo News

Published on February 8, 2004

THOMAS J. PROHASKA - News Niagara Bureau

A Niagara County Sheriff's Department substation may be installed soon at the area's largest mobile home park.

County Legislator Richard E. Updegrove, R-Lockport, said the approximately 5,000 residents of the Woodlands, formerly known as Leisure Acres, requested the extra police presence.

"It's a no-brainer. It would be beneficial to the county and the homeowners," Updegrove said.

"I see it as a high probability," said Sheriff Thomas A. Beilein. He

<OK so we are blaming Sheriff Beilein for the Legislators giving him what he asks for? To be clear I am not defending the sheriff. All department heads submit budgets for the Legislaters approval in the budget. So if I understand what you are saying, the sheriff does not need county approval for spending. Am I understanding you correctly?>

shughes,

You are partially correct. It's tough when the legislators don't have the guts to take on the budget of an incumbent who has seen so many of them come and go over the years.

The analogy to J. Edgar Hoover previously made is an accurate one. Tom Beilein has had so many years to consolidate his power that most of our representatives simply fall in line. Any who challenge his authority can be hurt in a variety of ways. For example, a town supervisor once told me that Sheriff patrols were reduced in his town because he angered the Sheriff.

Anyone paying attention over the last few years knows that Tom Beilein doesn't enforce the law,

*he is the law*.

Realize too, that the party faithful, the Democratic Party machine, puts Beilein on a pedestal because he is one of the few remaining Democratic officials in Niagara County.

It is the nature of people in the sclerotic major parties to fall in line behind the incumbent, and treat challengers like Gary Hayes as pariahs, until, at least, they prove themselves at the ballot box.

One high-ranking party official even told Gary, "Call me back in September".

To sum up, shughes, if you are a county legislator, and take on the Sheriff over the budget, you risk being portrayed as being "anti-law enforcement" in these troubled times, and you are taking on one of the most entrenched bureaucrats in the county who is known to have something of a vindictive streak in him.

The best way to bring sound fiscal strategy back to the Sheriff Dept., and by extension, Niagara County, is to vote for Gary M. Hayes in September.

Welcome New voice. I can understand your point, but can't give our legislators that out. They were elected by us to do a job. If the are allowing themselves to be bullied then they should not be there. The best way to handle a bully is out in the open, the sheriff has to follow the rules too. Who's job is it to see that that happens? They need to grow a spine.

Again I am not defending the sheriff, but this one does not land on his head. There seems to be enough issues with him that are clearly his own. Using an issue like the budget only gives him wiggle room.

<Gary, you are either gullible, or you are lying!>

It seems to me that Hayes stated explicitly that Sen. Maziarz has not contacted him, so unless anonymous has proof otherwise, that should stand. I mean, if some anonymous person charged that Scott Leffler is in cahoots with George Maziarz because they both disliked Ted Kennedy, would you accept that?

As for Primary Challenge as it exists in Niagara County being a front for the good senator, I think it's not terribly plausible, but even if it were true, so what? Would that take away one iota from Gary Hayes' ideas for reorganizing the Sheriff Department and saving taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars and providing better police service?

Western New York is a small place. In politics, everybody knows everybody and has worked for each other at some point in their political careers, or has wheeled and dealed with the same. Hayes is smart enough to know that if he beats Beilein in September, Maziarz would most certainly endorse and campaign strongly for the *Republican* candidate in the general election. So what you're bringing up about Primary Challenge being a front for Maziarz simply doesn't make sense to me.

As a member of the NRA, I can tell you, this is not right:

Niagara County Sheriff Thomas Beilein has taken action that places citizens of Niagara County in mortal danger.

Sheriff Beilein, according to the Buffalo News, has placed "an indefinite hold on the processing of pistol permits." Beilein said, "Individuals seeking to obtain pistol permits can expect the waiting period to increase substantially. Due to staff shortages we have been unable to process a pistol permit application since October, and there are no immediate plans to

Why is the Sheriff of Niagara County opposed to citizens defending themselves?

It is time for a change.

Anonymous wrote:

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As a member of the NRA, I can tell you, this is not right: SHERIFF DOING A DISSERVICE IN FAILURE TO PROCESS GUN PERMITSPublished on January 12, 2003 Buffalo News Niagara County Sheriff Thomas Beilein has taken action that places citizens of Niagara County in mortal danger.Sheriff Beilein, according to the Buffalo News, has placed "an indefinite hold on the processing of pistol permits." Beilein said, "Individuals seeking to obtain pistol permits can expect the waiting period to increase substantially. Due to staff shortages we have been unable to process a pistol permit application since October, and there are no immediate plans to Why is the Sheriff of Niagara County opposed to citizens defending themselves? It is time for a change.

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Scott Leffler wrote:

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 While I'm a huge 2nd Amendment fan, I'm missing something here. By the same token, does the Erie County legislature want their residents not to drive and that's why the DMVs were closed? It's funny. I'm pretty open minded about Beilein. He has faults. But all these 1/2 truth posts only push me to defend him ... and subsequently support him.

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This article in the Buffalo News is illustrative of how Sheriff Tom Beilein, when he doesn't get his way on some funding increase, plays the game of denying, cutting back or threatening to cut back on some service so that the public gets riled and puts heat on the legislature to give him his way. Giambra is also very good at this, or was for a while, because it does catch up with you. It will catch up with our Sheriff on election day.

Law-abiding citizens have a right to own a pistol. Refusing to grant permits is the same as denying this constitutional right. Notice the article does not quote Beilein as apologizing for the situation, or offering any way to mitigate or compensate for it. So if you get a job as a pizza delivery guy and want to obtain a handgun to protect yourself, "Sorry" says Sheriff Beilein, "try calling Batman".