The Ontario County Police Benevolent Association says it has no confidence in Ontario County Sheriff Kevin Henderson to continue in office.
The OCPBA represents 78 full and part-time deputies, sergeants and criminal investigators in the Ontaro County Sheriff’s Office. They group issued a lengthy statement Tuesday morning, saying in part: “The Ontario County PBA conducted a membership vote and by an overwhelming majority believes that the toxic culture created by the Sheriff coupled with the findings of the independent investigation have made the relationship between him and the county administration irreparable and does not have confidence in this Sheriff to continue to lead the Office of Sheriff.”
The Ontario County Board of Supervisors has asked Sheriff Henderson to step down, which he refuses to do. An independent investigation has been conducted, reportedly into sexually abusive comments made within the department. Members of the PBA say they were called on to relay their experiences regarding the policies and culture of the sheriff’s office, and cooperated with the investigation despite fears of retaliation.
The Ontario County undersheriff subsequently resigned. The PBA says deputies have been transferring out of the department at an unprecedented rate; 17 of them since 2019. They say three more will leave in the next 30 days. The PBA says it will have no further comment.
For his part, Sheriff Henderson says he was asked, under threat of retaliation, to resign the Office of Sheriff. Henderson says he has no intention of resigning, and reaffirms his commitment to the citizens of Ontario County to put public safety before politics.