Tompkins County OKs policy authorizing designated probation officers to carry firearms after 12–2 vote

The Tompkins County Legislature on Feb. 4 approved a resolution establishing a departmental policy that would authorize designated probation officers to carry firearms in specified, high-risk circumstances, passing the measure 12–2.

The measure, moved by Legislator Rich John and seconded by Legislator Lee Corman, applies primarily to officers supervising participants under the Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) program and to narrowly defined high-risk situations, the probation director said. Department of Probation Director Dan Cornell told the legislature that if the resolution passed the policy would then be submitted to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives for review. "If it's to pass tonight, then the policy would be sent to DCJS... At that point, once we're approved... we will pursue psychological evaluations for the affected officers as well as begin to schedule training," Cornell said.

Cornell and other supporters said the policy includes checks intended to limit who carries firearms and when: mandatory psychological evaluations to mirror law‑enforcement practice, documentation of case conferences for authorization, and a distinction between concealed carry for routine field contacts and open carry when operating with law‑enforcement partners.

Opponents raised concerns about transparency and civilian safety, repeatedly pressing for a parallel policy on body‑worn cameras and more explicit limits on where and when an armed probation officer would deploy. Legislator Shauna Black said she could not support the resolution, stating, "I'm still not gonna support this," and other members pressed the Public Safety Committee to make body cameras a committee goal this year. In response an amendment directing the Public Safety Committee to work with probation on a body‑camera policy for field work was added and accepted before the final vote.

The final roll-call vote recorded 12 yes, 2 no; legislators Amanda Champion and Shawna Black voted no. Supporters said they expect the first armed probation officers to appear in late summer or early fall after DCJS review, training and psychological screening are complete; Cornell estimated the earliest operational timeline at about six months. The probation director also said current department budget lines for training and travel could be reallocated to cover initial equipment and training costs, while additional less‑lethal equipment (for example, tasers) would require a future budget request.

The resolution text (ID 13067) and the transcript record show the policy explicitly limits arming to supervised high‑risk cases and contemplates documentation, case conferences and notification of probationers when appropriate. The committee and supporters emphasized the policy is intended to protect staff executing searches or supervising individuals with known weapons risk, not to expand routine armed home visits for low‑level nonviolent probationers.

Next steps: probation will submit the policy to DCJS/OPCA for review; the county said it will return any recommended changes to the legislature before implementation and pursue required psychological evaluations and training if approved.