November 08, 2002

Orange sheriff-elect weighs top choices

By Brendan Scott
Times Herald-Record
bscott@th-record.com

Mount Hope - The race for Orange County sheriff is over. Voters picked Carl DuBois to be the county's No. 1 lawman.

But who's No. 2? Or 3, 4, 5 and 6 for that matter?

In his campaign, DuBois promised to overhaul the management structure of the scandal-scarred office and remove politics from its day-to-day functions.

His plan calls for four deputy undersheriffs. They would answer to an undersheriff, who would answer to DuBois.

But the sheriff-elect is not ready to name names. DuBois hopes to have an undersheriff lined up before Thanksgiving and says he's already received "several" résumés, both solicited and unsolicited.

However, the retired Middletown police lieutenant acknowledges some folks already have their feet in the door - namely Kenneth T. Jones, secretary/treasurer of the New York State Police Investigators Association.

The 47-year-old investigator from Deerpark has actively campaigned for DuBois, whom he met while both were cops in 1986. Jones has 23 years with the state police, including 16 years with its Bureau of Criminal Investigation.

"It's pretty common knowledge that I was looking at [Jones] for undersheriff," DuBois said. "He's highly qualified. He's the only person I'm seriously considering for undersheriff."

But even if Jones is a sure thing, DuBois has made no indication publicly as to who will fill his four proposed deputy undersheriff positions, which would oversee corrections, administration, investigations and the road division.

His priority is hiring a jail administrator - a role that has been vacant since the late Col. Theodore Catletti was fired under a cloud in July 2001. The sheriff-elect says he wants someone who lives in Orange County and has a college education and corrections experience.

Some speculated one top slot would go to retired Sheriff Roger G. Phillips of Mount Hope, whose maverick leadership style earned him praise as a jailer but drew criticism as he tried to expand the office's limited police role.

"There is no position that's going to be offered to Roger Phillips," DuBois said. "His experience, if anything, would be useful in assisting me with the transition."

Due to budget constraints, DuBois says he may have to fill management slots internally.

So where does that leave Undersheriff John Thompson, a Bigger ally who has 24 years in the sheriff's office?

Thompson says his "plans are incomplete at the moment."

DuBois is more specific: "[Thompson] doesn't fit into my administrative plans," he said. "I ran on a platform that was all about reform. I can't be a true reform candidate if I retain the old administration."