ECSO Now has Four Units with State Recognized Accreditation 

Buffalo, NY – Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard announces proudly that the Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team has earned New York State Department of Criminal Justice Service’s (DCJS) certification. 

The multi-month application process culminated in successful completion and recognition from DCJS in a letter dated December 19.  The Sheriff’s SWAT Team met the high standards established by the state’s Municipal Police Training Council and DCJS to receive its certification.  Among some of the extensive standards needed to achieve certification include supervision and team structure, team operator selection process, initial 160-hour basic SWAT course, yearly in-service training, physical fitness standards, equipment standards, deployment procedures, tactical planning, and command/supervision training. 

The state certification announcement follows the Erie County Sheriff’s Office first place finish in the first annual DCJS SWAT Team competition this past summer in Oriskany, New York.  This recent certificate award makes the Sheriff’s SWAT Team one of only eleven teams throughout New York to achieve DCJS certification.  The initial certification is valid for two years at which time the SWAT team will need to re-certify. 

The Erie County Sheriff’s Office has earned two new state recognized accreditations/certification for the Jail Management Division and SWAT Team and one reaccreditation for the Civil Enforcement Division in 2017.  The Sheriff’s Police Services Division is also accredited.