Sheriff Schiff

MONTICELLO –Multiple shots fired, many thought to be gang related, weapons found, a melee involving perhaps 90 in Rock Hill … all of that in a short period, and that adds up to one thing, according to Sullivan County Sheriff Michael Schiff.

“It all seems to be interconnected and it’s gang related. So, I anticipate this will be a very busy summer," he said.

Schiff told the County Legislature Public Safety Committee that this has been the number one concern since he took over two years ago.

“There is a gang problem; there was a gang problem. It’s a problem that we have to address head-on, and we have to address it in an orderly manner. That takes manpower. It’s very tedious time-consuming work. The only way to make a difference in this, in my opinion, and everybody has an opinion on this … this one is mine … you address it and you have got to know what’s going on.”

Preventive measures are vital, noted Schiff, who defended the D.A.R.E. program, aimed at fifth grade students. He said the program will continue in Sullivan County, despite cutbacks in state funding.

Then, there are the more mundane events, including missing persons. One recent case ended unhappily, but another, had a better outcome when a young child successfully recovered, after being missing in the woods overnight.