Community Programs

 In response to active shooter incidents nationwide, ACSO instituted and offered a course in civilian response to an active shooter incident. This training provides vital information about what to expect during an in incident, what to expect from law enforcement and how to respond to law enforcement. Thousands of civilians received this training. 

This program protects individuals who have a history of wandering or there is a significant concern of them becoming lost. A small non-intrusive band transmitter is placed on the subject’s ankle or wrist. The band transmits a specific radio frequency which can be located by trained ACSO personnel.

  Allows emergency responders to quickly access critical information enabling timely, accurate and effective treatment. In the event you are unable to speak for yourself the Yellow DOT provides first responders instant access to your medical history, medications, blood type, allergies, etc.

 ACSO introduced the RAD Program which is basic self-defense for women. It is a comprehensive women only course that begins with awareness, prevention and risk avoidance strategies and progresses to the basics of hands on defense training. The goal is to teach women techniques to help them escape and survive. RAD provides effective options by teaching women to take an active role in their own self- defense and psychological wellbeing.  

 ACSO has implemented the Law Enforcement Explorer Program which is a youth oriented program. Its primary purpose is to provide through actual experience a means by which young men and women may determine if they would like to pursue a career in law enforcement. The program also provides the Sheriff’s Office with additional human resources and it opens an important avenue of understanding with an energetic, concerned society of young people. 

 ACSO Offers the citizens of Albany County this enhanced system to monitor registered sex offenders in Albany County. This system is used to manage and monitor their whereabouts and helps investigators assure the registered offender is complying with a variety of restrictions and stipulations. 

Operation SAFE CHILD card program is a free service utilizing the latest digital fingerprinting technology and high resolution photography. Safe Child cards are made for parents and guardians at numerous public events throughout the year. Information is stored in a statewide secure database and quickly provides important details to police agencies investigating child disappearances and is used in conjunction with the NYS AMBER Alert and Missing Child Alert programs.  

Notifies the public via email mobile phone during disasters. The Emergency Mass Notification System allows the Sheriff’s Office to send high speed emails and text messages to those residents who have enrolled delivering critical information during emergencies.  

Is an organized system for prehospital physician response in the Capital Region. Through a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office & Albany Medical Center Hospital we have formed the prehospital EMS Physician Response Program. These highly trained emergency room doctors will be available to respond to the scene of major incidents in Albany County or neighboring jurisdictions. This program enhances the level of care victims of serious incidents will receive and will provide the highest quality of care at these serious incidents which can be the difference between life and death. 

A free phone application for Android or Apple products which has two menus, Sheriffs menu and Emergency management menu. Features included are “See Something Say Something”, “See Something Text Something”, Albany County Alerts, Pistol Permits, R.A.D. Self Defense, Sheriff’s Explorer post, Travel Alerts, Special Needs Registry, Project Lifesaver and Yellow DOT program. To download Albany County NY Sheriff on iPhone or Google play app stores. 

The Albany County Sheriff’s Office Countywide Registry for Persons In Need for residents of Albany County.  The program is designed to assist the special needs community who are physically unable or require assistance to evacuate their homes during an emergency situation.  These emergencies can be acts of nature such as a hurricane, tornado, flood, or manmade emergencies such as a terrorist attack, chemical spill, etc., any emergency situation requiring evacuation that could occur in Albany County. The Registry was created as a result of Section 23-a of the Executive Law of New York State. In addition to evacuation during an emergency situation, the information from the application process will be input into the County E-911 system to be utilized for a routine distress call allowing emergency responders to instantly identify the special needs of callers from their residences. In situations like this, prior knowledge of the needs of the caller and response time could make a difference for the awareness of the responders during this crucial time. This Registry is the most extensive of its kind in the Capital District. 

The plan is designed to assist low-income and special needs communities in Albany County with emergency sheltering needs and disaster preparedness. Municipalities in Albany County are trained to staff and operate such shelters during emergencies.

  The Sheriff's Office County Animal Response Team (CART) consists of volunteers trained in caring for all types of animals. We are assisted by the Mohawk-Hudson Humane Society, the ASPCA, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, and many volunteer veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and others trained in the care and treatment of animals.

 Provides toys and holiday spirit to families in the Hilltowns that may not be able to afford Christmas. 

   ACSO has teamed up with local providers to assist families with and students that may be struggling with food insecurity.