Falco takes the oath of office in the Rockland County Legislature Chambers

NEW CITY – Rockland County's new sheriff, Louis Falco, took the oath of office Monday afternoon during a well-attended ceremony.  The former chief of patrol in the sheriff's office replaces retired Sheriff James Kralik who held the post for a decade and had been in Rockland County law enforcement for 46 years.  Falco said Kralik has been a mentor to him.

A lifelong resident of Rockland County, Falco himself started his career as a police dispatcher at 19, and told his parents then that he would someday become the sheriff. He said they took it as light-hearted fancy at the time, but his election in November saw it fully realized.

"This is my ninth time being sworn in as an officer…and I know what it means to take that oath of office," said Falco. "I promise to serve and protect to the best of my ability standing alongside the men and women of the Rockland County Sheriff's office and every law enforcement agency in this county as well as the state and federal authorities."

The new sheriff acknowledged that recent budget constraints have led to trying times in Rockland County, but said that due to the hard work of elected officials his office has come through no worse for wear.

"It wasn't easy; [they] had to really bite the bullet and do some hard things and make some hard choices. But they chose to keep us largely in part, though," he lauded. "My brother and sister chiefs came and stood here and testified about the relationships and the working together…and the domino effect that it would have if something happened to the Sheriff's Office."

Sworn in along with Falco were Thomas Zugibe for his second term as Rockland County District Attorney, Sherri Eisenpress as Family Court Judge and Alan Simon as the new Ramapo Town Judge.