We recently had the opportunity to talk to our Resident Deputy Sheriff, Brian Molinski who is assigned to patrol Taghkanic. The Resident Deputy Sheriff Program in our county was initiated in 2002. As a Resident Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant Molinski is assigned a patrol vehicle to patrol the town he lives in, (in his case, Livingston) and surrounding towns. Resident Deputy Sheriffs start and end patrols from their residence. “I am on patrol from the minute I leave my house. I also have the ability to cover shift change between traditional sheriff deputies and be there for habitual problems or public safety situations that may need to be addressed during a certain time of day.
Sergeant Molinksi is a self-proclaimed country boy at heart who enjoys carrying on his family’s Beef cattle operation with his grandfather. He is a fifth-generation farmer of their land in Livingston and he hopes to build it up so that his sons, now 9 & 12 can continue the tradition. He jokes about being a farmer who is also a cop, or is it the other way around?
The primary duties of Resident Deputy Sheriffs include Community Relations and Interaction, Police Patrol and Investigation, Traffic Safety Education and Enforcement, Underage Drinking and DWI Education and Enforcement, Handicapped Parking Education and Enforcement and all other standard duties of a law enforcement officer. Sergeant Molinski patrols all of Taghkanic, from the Parkway to the county and town roads and back roads, and it is those back roads that he feels need attention too. In Taghkanic,” I love the rolling hills, the streams….one of my favorite spots in on New Forge Rd. and the falls there where I take my kids.” He emphasizes that security and safety is needed everywhere and though the crime rate in Taghkanic is not high, his presence along all roads is important.
Sergeant Molinski clearly believes that this area is a wonderful place to live. He smiles and says, “there is nothing like small town living. Neighbors looking out for neighbors and, our police presence through the resident deputy sheriff program and regular patrol staffing keep this community and our surrounding area safe. The ambulance squad is very well staffed, and our volunteer fire department is very good though they could always use more volunteers. We are very safe here.”
We wanted to know some of the reasons why you may call the Sheriff’s Department instead of 911 and those reasons seem pretty obvious. If there’s an emergency where you need a car to respond immediately, to an individual or to the public safety, that is a reason to call 911. If something is in progress and needs an immediate emergency response, that is a reason to call 911. Fires, suspicious vehicles or people, etc. Tree branches or garbage on the road or a wandering horse or livestock, call the Sheriffs Department. If it’s an incident that has already occurred, call the Sheriff’s office directly.
Sergeant Molinski found a career in law enforcement through his wife’s family. He loves that this career has brought stability to his family and allows him to assist his neighbors and community. And of course, it allows him to pursue his retirement dreams of cattle farming his family’s land in Livingston.
If you need to reach the Sheriff's Department: 518-828-3344