Staff Report / April 17, 2025
Steuben County has begun hiring former New York State correction officers who were terminated following a recent illegal strike, taking advantage of a temporary lift on hiring restrictions for local governments. This move comes as the county seeks to address staffing shortages within its corrections division.
Sheriff James Allard announced that seven former state correction officers have been hired as deputies and are set to begin work on Monday, April 28. An additional five are expected to join in the coming weeks. Allard emphasized that these individuals are fully trained and eager to continue their public service careers. “The folks that are no longer employed by the state were essentially cut off by the state and shoved off to the side because they stood up for their rights. That’s the kind of people we like to employ here at Steuben County,” he stated.
The hiring follows a significant labor dispute earlier this year, where over 2,000 New York State correction officers were dismissed for participating in a 22-day strike that violated the Taylor Law, which prohibits public employees from striking. In response, Governor Kathy Hochul issued Executive Order No. 47.3, permanently barring these individuals from state employment and recommending the revocation of their peace officer certifications .
Initially, this executive order also restricted local governments from hiring the terminated officers. However, facing legal challenges and staffing concerns from counties like Chemung and Steuben, the state temporarily lifted the ban for local municipalities on April 10. Local agencies hiring these individuals are now responsible for ensuring they complete state-mandated basic training within one year of employment .
Despite the temporary lift, the ban on state employment for these officers remains in place. Governor Hochul has maintained that those who participated in the strike demonstrated a disregard for public trust and safety, justifying their exclusion from future state service .
As Steuben County integrates these new deputies, Sheriff Allard expressed optimism about returning to full staffing levels and the potential for further hires from the pool of experienced former state correction officers.
