Published: June 26, 2009 11:38 pm      

COPS NOTEBOOK: It’s a time for change

It’s time for some catching up.

Time to say some good-byes and time to say congratulations for some well deserved moves up the ladder at the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department.

Movin’ on

Niagara County, Western New York and the Air Force’s loss will be the Veteran Administration’s gain. Can’t say how sad it is to say good-bye to Mike Messina.

Messina, a long-time Niagara County Sheriff’s Department investigator has hung up that badge, but is taking on a new one as the chief of the VA Police Department here. Not only did Mike make his mark in the sheriff’s department, but his most recent posting was to the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force.

On the task force, he played an important role in the “Lackawanna Six” terrorism investigation. In his days with the sheriff’s department, he was one of the most dogged investigators probing the criminal enterprise that was Laborer’s Local 91.

If that’s not enough to leave you impressed, as Col. Messina, Mike pulled multiple combat missions in the war on terror including time in the skies over Afghanistan.

Folks in the Niagara Region have lost another one of he really good guys.

Farewell No. 2...

Messina’s retirement isn‘t the sheriff’s department’s only loss.

In May, long time Administrative Division Chief Deputy John Taylor stepped away. An up through the ranks guy with 38 years on the job, Taylor knew the workings of the sheriff’s department inside and out.

A low key guy, Taylor was never too busy to help a reporter out and that earns my thanks.

Now, let me mention Taylor’s replacement. He is pretty top notch, too.

Administrative Capt. Tom Beatty has slid over to fill Taylor’s shoes. Beatty took over the chief deputy post on the 31st anniversary of his hiring as a deputy sheriff.

I first met Tom when he was the director of the Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy. He had invited me to lecture rookie cops on how to deal with the news media.

A razor sharp guy, who certainly understands how the media works, it was a pleasure working with him there. His promotion is well deserved.

Making history

In the sheriff’s department Criminal Investigation Bureau, the retirement of another long-time top cop has led to some history.

First, my best to Chief Bruce Roth, who hung up his badge after more than 36 years of fighting crime across Niagara County. Bruce was a great guy for a reporter to work with it, always accessible and a straight shooter and a seasoned investigator who knew how to get to the bottom line of a crime.

His history making replacement is Kristen Neubauer, who moves from CIB investigator to captain, the first female to reach that rank in the Niagara County Sheriff’s Department.

Neubauer has been with the department since 1994, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and a veteran of Operation Desert Storm as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.

You can tell she’s just getting used to her new title. When I saw her at a seminar recently, with Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert, and I greeted her as , “Hi chief”, she thought I was talking to Larry.

Sheriff Jim Voutour made a great choice in moving Neubauer up.

Headin’ to the JTTF

Finally, Sheriff’s Investigator Joe Taylor didn’t have to worry about losing his partner, Neubauer.

Joe is now waiting for his clearances to replace Messina on the Joint Terrorism Task Force. A meticulous investigator, Taylor brings all the right skills for the JTTF.

He’ll continue to serve the Niagara Region, but on a much larger stage. Neubauer told me, she and the rest of the CIB investigators are already missing Taylor.

Contact reporter Rick Pfeiffer

at 282-2311, ext. 2252.