Drennan’s choice for undersheriff has skills, heart and commitment

Posted 20 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Editor:

After reading the letter to the Orleans Hub from Officer Jenks and her perspective of what an undersheriff in Orleans County should be, I felt I needed to respond to some of what I feel are not factual.

First and foremost, I don’t believe that Tom Drennan was pressured by the public to announce his undersheriff. He clearly stated a few months ago that he did not want the sheriff’s race to be about who the undersheriff was going to be. It was his decision and that should be respected. That being said, when Chief Deputy Drennan decided to announce his choice for undersheriff on his own terms, the choice of choosing Brett Sobieraski was certainly well thought out.

Sergeant Sobieraski’s knowledge, training and experience along with Tom Drennan’s extensive record of training and achievements make an incredible team. To imply that Brett’s experience can’t be applied to the citizens of Orleans County because we’re not “city slickers” is an irresponsible and ludicrous statement. Brett currently lives in the town of Kent and has resided in this area for more than 20 years. I’m sure he has a firm grip on what small town life is like.

He has served the City of Rochester as a supervising sergeant for the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, served as a police instructor and has taught SWAT tactics just to name a few of his achievements. Who could be better qualified than Brett to attack the growing heroin use in Orleans County?

He recently swam the width of Lake Ontario to raise money for charity to honor his late friend Thomas Valentine, a Navy Seal who died in a parachuting accident in Arizona in 2008. The charity All In, All the Time supports the interim needs of spouses and children of fallen soldiers.

He also completed a 100-mile ultra-marathon in memory of his fallen RPD colleague, Officer Daryl Pierson. Please don’t question Brett Sobieraski’s ability to adapt to a small-town atmosphere (he lives among us in Orleans County) and never question his experience, heart and determination to make Orleans County safe for all of us. The man’s record speaks for itself as does Tom Drennan’s.

Please join me in voting for Tom Drennan as Orleans County Sheriff on November 3rd. Experience Matters!

Timothy Jurhs
Kendall