CARMEL, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 29, 2017: Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith issues the following message to the people of Putnam County:

As my time as your Sheriff comes to a close, I take this opportunity to thank all of the people of Putnam County for all of your great support, hard work and faithful encouragement in helping the law enforcement and emergency services community in keeping Putnam County a great and safe place to live, work and raise a family.

I take this opportunity to also thank all of our fellow team members in the law enforcement and emergency services community for all of their support of our Sheriff’s Deputies, Correction Officers and our Support Staff during my tenure as Sheriff. Our members of law enforcement, our fire departments, and our ambulance corps are truly the most hardworking and dedicated professionals I know. Let me take this opportunity to say, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

It has been my great honor and privilege to have served with you these past 19 years as your Deputy County Executive and as your Sheriff. In remembering the words of the great Lou Gehrig, “Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth” – having been given the opportunity to serve in two of the noblest professions, the United States Military and in the Office of Sheriff.

Thank you again for all your great support, encouragement and your prayers. It truly has been one of the greatest honors and privileges of my life to have served with you over these many years.

May God bless you and your families with good health, great success, and much happiness today and always.