2026 New York General Election

In 1992 I transferred to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Law Enforcement (DLE), where I remained for 30 years, starting as a uniformed conservation officer, promoted to investigator, uniform lieutenant (supervising environmental conservation officer), uniformed captain (chief environmental conservation officer), and retiring as the two-star director of law enforcement, overseeing a staff of 300+ officers and civilians, with an annual budget for the Division of Law Enforcement of $30,500,000. Having served in these roles throughout my career with DLE, I have done first-line supervision and administrative and command-level assignments, including four years overseeing our Office of Professional Standards (Internal Affairs).

Meet your 2022 election candidates for Orange County Sheriff

Bernie Rivers retired as the two-star director of law enforcement for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement. He previously served there as a uniformed conservation officer, investigator, uniform lieutenant, and uniformed captain.

Arteta beats Rivers in Orange County Sheriff race - The Chronicle

Officer Bernie Rivers is heard in the recording saying, “Do not open that door because I will shoot that [expletive] dog. Make no mistake about that, so step back down there.”...Rivers ran for Orange County sheriff in 2022 and lost against Paul Arteta.

Town of Goshen police officer under investigation was heard on bodycam video threatening to shoot dog

Bernie previously ran for Orange County sheriff in 2022 but did not win.

Goshen police officer heard on body camera threatening to shoot dog

“My main goal is to continue to build upon Sheriff Carl DuBois’ legacy and continue to bring the Sheriff’s Office into the 21st Century of policing,” said Rivers about what he intends to address. “This includes holding all members of office, regardless of rank, accountable for their decisions, as well as supporting commonsense gun control and police reform and being an advocate for women’s healthcare rights.”

Bernie Rivers is pursuing his dream occupation

Every policy should answer a simple question: does it make residents safer while preserving the professionalism, transparency, and trust a Sheriff’s Office must earn?

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Strengthen communication, education, and partnerships so residents understand available resources and deputies understand the communities they serve.

ACCOUNTABILITY & INTEGRITY

Priorities | Bernie Rivers for Sheriff

RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY

Use tools such as camera systems to improve safety with secure data practices, limited authorized access, oversight, and respect for public trust.

LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY

LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY

Focus personnel, training, and resources on Orange County’s real needs while protecting taxpayers through disciplined, responsible management.

MODERNIZATION WITH GUARDRAILS

Supports gun-control measures and police reform.

Plans to strengthen communication, education, and partnerships so residents know about available resources and deputies understand the communities they serve.

Plans to use camera systems to improve safety through secure data practices, limited authorized access, oversight, and measures to protect public trust.

Plans to focus personnel, training, and resources on Orange County's needs while managing the sheriff's office responsibly for taxpayers.

- Supports gun-control measures and police reform.
- Plans to strengthen communication, education, and partnerships so residents know about available resources and deputies understand the communities they serve.
- Plans to use camera systems to improve safety through secure data practices, limited authorized access, oversight, and measures to protect public trust.
- Plans to focus personnel, training, and resources on Orange County's needs while managing the sheriff's office responsibly for taxpayers.

Public Safety

As of October 22, 2026, Bernie Rivers’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jail Management

ACCOUNTABILITY & INTEGRITY

Set clear standards, reinforce ethical conduct, improve transparency, and ensure leadership accepts responsibility for agency performance.

RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY

Plans to establish clear standards, reinforce ethical conduct, improve transparency, and hold agency leadership responsible for performance.

- Plans to establish clear standards, reinforce ethical conduct, improve transparency, and hold agency leadership responsible for performance.

Criminal Justice

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Bernie Rivers

- Plans to strengthen communication, education, and partnerships so residents know about available resources and deputies understand the communities they serve.
- Plans to use camera systems to improve safety through secure data practices, limited authorized access, oversight, and measures to protect public trust.
- Plans to focus personnel, training, and resources on Orange County's needs while managing the sheriff's office responsibly for taxpayers.

Bernie Rivers earned a bachelor's degree from Empire State College and graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, a 10-week police leadership training program.

Bernie Rivers retired as director of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Law Enforcement. He previously served as a uniformed conservation officer, investigator, uniform lieutenant, and uniformed captain in the division, and as a uniformed corrections officer with the New York State Department of Correctional Services. He also worked for various local police departments.

- Supports public-safety technology with written policies, data security, oversight, and periodic review.
- Believes strong training, modern standards, accountable leadership, and community partnerships are essential to public trust in the Sheriff's Office.
- Plans to focus personnel, training, and resources on local public-safety needs while managing the Sheriff's Office responsibly.
- Plans to explain agency decisions and make important updates accessible while respecting privacy, due process, and public-safety requirements.

- Plans to set clear standards, reinforce ethical conduct, improve transparency, and hold agency leadership responsible for performance.

Bernie Rivers earned a bachelor's degree from Empire State College. He lives in Mount Hope and previously volunteered with a fire department and ambulance corps.

Bernie Rivers worked as a patrol officer in the Town of Goshen. He previously retired from his position as the two-star director of law enforcement for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's Division of Law Enforcement and served as a uniformed corrections officer for the New York State Department of Correctional Services.

Bernie previously ran for Orange County sheriff in 2022 but was not elected.

- Plans to use camera systems with secure data practices, limited access, oversight, and written policies.
- Plans to focus personnel, training, and resources on meeting Orange County’s public-safety needs while managing funds responsibly.
- Plans to strengthen communication, education, and partnerships among residents, schools, local governments, first responders, and law-enforcement professionals.
- Plans to communicate public-safety updates clearly and make information easier to access while respecting privacy and due process.

- Calls for clear standards, ethical conduct, transparency, and leadership accountability in the Sheriff’s Office.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

As of October 22, 2026, Paul Arteta did not have a website or any information online.

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Paul Arteta

As of October 22, 2026, Paul Arteta’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Orange Sheriff

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Public Safety

Jail Management

Criminal Justice