Broome County Legislature Chairman Jerry Marinich has named County Legislator Mike Sopchak as Chairman of the County Legislature's Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee.

The Public Safety and Emergency Services Committee oversees matters pertaining to the County Sheriff, District Attorney, Office of Emergency Services, Probation Department and County Security Division.

"Ensuring public safety is the number one job of government. We were able to start the process of enhancing it by adding two Sheriff road patrol deputies and a correction officer in the 2012 County Budget while not increasing taxes on County taxpayers," said Legislator Sopchak. "I'm looking forward to working with my colleagues on the Legislature, the County Executive, the Sheriff and the District Attorney this year on ways we can do even better in protecting the residents of Broome County."

Legislator Sopchak will Chair his first Committee meeting today, Monday, January 9 at 4 PM in the Legislative Conference Room on the 6th Floor of the County Office Building.

Sopchak was elected in November to fill the remainder of the term of the late Bob Locker. His 12th Legislative District includes the Northside of Johnson City, part of the Town of Dickinson and part of the City of Binghamton.

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