DA opposes ‘terrible decision’ with sudden shutdown of Major Felony Crime Task Force

File photo by Tom Rivers: District Attorney Susan Howard speaks during a June 2025 County Legislature meeting about a National Association of Counties award for the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force. Legislator Skip Draper is at right. The county received an “Achievement Award” for the Task Force for its collaborative efforts with local and regional law enforcement agencies.

ALBION – Orleans County District Attorney Susan Howard is angry that county officials chose to abruptly shut down the Major Felony Crime Task Force on Thursday.

Howard oversees the Task Force and was given no indication or notice that Task Force would be eliminated. The Task Force’s functions will be shifted to the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office, a move that County Chief Administrative Officer Jack Welch said would save nearly $400,000.

The Task Force operates with three full-time investigators. All are retired law enforcement officers who Howard said work at a reduced salary and benefits. She doesn’t see how there would be any cost savings if the Sheriff’s Office assumes the work of the Task Force.

She said the abrupt end jeopardizes ongoing cases, including recent arrests and others where arrests would have been forthcoming.

Howard issued the following statement this afternoon:

“Every Orleans County resident should be angry today.

“Chris Bourke and bureaucrats in the County Office Building are gutting public safety and making Orleans County more dangerous by eliminating the Major Felony Crime Task Force.

“Let me be crystal clear: Your family will be less safe because of this ludicrous decision. This Task Force has been the most effective crimefighting apparatus that has ever existed in Orleans County.

“Without the Major Felony Crime Task Force, there would be enough doses of fentanyl still on the street to kill the entire population of Orleans County.

“Without the Task Force, there would be a pound of illegal cocaine, hundreds of pounds of illegal marijuana and loaded illegal guns still on the street.

“Without the Task Force, there would be literally dozens of dangerous criminals roaming our neighborhoods instead of serving prison time.

“I could go on and on….

“So why on earth would anyone even consider eliminating the Major Felony Crime Task Force?

“Because Chris Bourke doesn’t want to face an opponent in next year’s election for Sheriff. It’s that simple, and it is the absolute worst of petty politics.

“On Tuesday, Brett Sobieraski announced his Republican campaign for Sheriff in next year’s election. The next day, a sudden announcement was made that the Task Force is being defunded and Brett (and two other excellent and experienced law enforcement professionals, John Doe and Bob Smith) were fired.

“As Orleans County District Attorney, I don’t endorse candidates for elective office. But I can weigh in with my professional assessment of people I’ve worked with.

“Brett Sobieraski is one of the most decorated law enforcement professionals to ever call Orleans County home. As an Investigator on the Task Force, he led and participated in countless cases that removed drugs, guns and dangerous criminals from our streets. 

“Because of Brett’s work, I’ve been able to prosecute and put dangerous criminals where they belong – in State Prison. That’s just one of many reasons that Brett was named the Orleans Hub Citizen of the Year. Twice.

“Yet, today, this hero was escorted by security out of our office. Brett has spent his life putting criminals in jail, and today they treated him like he was a criminal.

“Losing John Doe’s 20 years of supervisory experience and Bob Smith’s 40 years in law enforcement is a significant loss to Orleans County’s public safety, too.

“At a time when socialists are taking over Washington and Albany, now we have so-called ‘leaders’ here in Orleans County literally defunding the police.

“They’ve made an argument that eliminating the Task Force will save $400,000 in the $106 million County Budget. Now, I’m as much of a conservative Republican as you will find anywhere. But it’s terrible policy to save a few bucks by cutting the most effective law enforcement tool that we have. This would be like cutting food out of your monthly household budget and then wondering why everyone is hungry.

“To put it in perspective, in just the last two years the Task Force has seized more than $3,000,000 worth of illegal drugs and $340,000 in drug dealing proceeds.

“Without the Task Force, the Sheriff’s Office will have no one experienced in drug investigations, period.

“Eliminating the Major Felony Crime Task Force will put many cases that my office prosecutes in jeopardy. It is the wrong decision for the people of Orleans County, and it’s being done for the worst possible reason.

“I wholeheartedly oppose this terrible decision.”