Candidates in Their Own Words: Bernie Rivers, Democrat Candidate for Orange County Sheriff, New York

The Epoch Times sat down with Bernie Rivers, the Democrat candidate for Orange County Sheriff at his campaign office in Goshen, New York, on Sept. 26.

Rivers, the sole Democrat contender for the county’s top law enforcement job, faces Republican Paul Arteta in the general election. Carmen DeStefano, a retired investigator, also runs as a write-in candidate.

The incumbent sheriff, Carl Dubois, is retiring after 20 years in office.

The below interview was edited for brevity and clarity.

The Epoch Times: Most of your career centred on environmental conservation law enforcement. How did you get into that career track?

Rivers: “I was born in Suffolk County on Long Island and moved up to Mount Hope, New York when I was a kid. I attended a law enforcement class offered by Orange-Ulster BOCES as a senior from Minisink Valley High School. The instructor told us about various law enforcement careers, and I just liked the conservation officers.

“I like the outdoors. When I was younger, I did a lot of hunting and fishing. You understand that traditional police officers work out of police stations, but environmental officers work out of their homes.

“They give you a car, they give you all equipment, and you live in the area where you are assigned to patrol. You set your own schedules around your enforcement activities, and you report to headquarters once a month.”

Bernie Rivers points to the diploma he got in 1981 after completion of a correctional officer training program in his campaign office in Goshen, N.Y., on Sept. 26, 2022. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times)

The Epoch Times: After you graduated from high school, you worked as a correctional officer for 10 years while juggling part-time work at local police departments. Can you share more about that experience?

Rivers: “My ultimate goal

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