News
Normal business hours are Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Media outlets are instructed to send all inquiries to mcsocommunications@monroecounty.gov or contact the PIO via phone.
Public Information Officer (PIO) Deputy Brendan Hurley can be reached directly at 585-753-4840.
Communications Director Amy Young may be reached directly at 585-753-4518.
Off hours (after 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, weekends, and holidays) Media outlets are instructed to call Media Line at 585-753-2978 for information on developing/breaking news and incidents. The Watch Commander will, in turn, disseminate requested information to all local media outlets.
All other inquiries, including requests for “enterprise” stories, may be made by contacting the Communications Office at MCSOCommunications@monroecounty.gov. These requests will be answered during normal business hours.
Deputies Arrest Repeat Offender Following St. John Fisher University Incident
On October 28, 2025, St. John Fisher University security contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and reported that they believed known offender, Shalom Mathews, was on the campus earlier in the week. Mathews is a former student who was banned from the campus following an arrest for an attempted...
Deputies Make Arrest Following an Investigation into Inappropriate Touching on RIT Campus
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, working in collaboration with the Rochester Institute of Technology Public Safety Department, investigated following several reports of an individual making inappropriate comments, and in some cases advancements, toward pedestrians on campus walkways. In some of t...
Deputies Arrest Predicate Felon for Stealing Dozens of Bronze Vases from a Pittsford Cemetery, Scrapping Them for Cash
On October 16, 2025 at 2:00 pm, Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies were notified by staff at White Haven Memorial Park, located at 210 Marsh Road in Pittsford, that an unknown male was stealing several bronze vases from inside the cemetery’s mausoleums. The male left the cemetery with the stolen vases...
MCSO Investigates U.S. Postal Worker Shooting Outside of Henrietta Post Office
Update (10/16/25): The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is actively working with the United States Postal Inspectors and other federal partners as the investigation into this incident continues. Preliminary evidence indicates the victim was seated in his personal vehicle when the suspect opened fire...
Forged Check Investigation Leads to Search Warrants and Seizure of an Illegal Handgun
On October 02, 2025, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Economic Crimes Unit conducted two search warrants, one on Union Square in Chili and the other on Sherman Street in Rochester. The search warrants were a result of an ongoing investigation into checks that were stolen and forged before they wer...
Larceny Suspects Lead Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies on a Pursuit Ending in the Erie Canal
Update (9/4/25): The man recovered during the September 2, 2025 Erie Canal investigation is identified as Reginald L. Russell, 56, of Rochester. Our thoughts are with his family during this difficult time. Original Release: (9/3/25): On September 2, 2025, at 6:31 p.m., Brockport Police officers...
MCSO Deputies Arrest Serial Offender for Stealing Again in Henrietta; Christopher Cole Remanded to the Monroe County Jail
On August 27, 2025 at 3:30 p.m., Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies were notified by Home Depot Loss Prevention, located at 770 Jefferson Rd., Henrietta, that a serial offender, Christopher Cole, 58, of Brighton, was trespassing on Home Depot property. The loss prevention employee followed Cole to Dic...
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is Investigating the Death of an Incarcerated Individual
UPDATE (08.14.25): The incarcerated individual found unresponsive inside her cell at the Monroe County Jail and later pronounced deceased at a local hospital on 08/7/25 is identified as: Abriana Pesante, 35, of Rochester. Our thoughts are with Ms. Pesante's family during this difficult time. ///...
MCSO Searching for Additional Victims Following Arrest of Man for Harassment on the Canal Path
Update: 8/6/25 Following the release of Oleksandr Levytskyy we share the community’s concerns. MCSO continues to work with our partners: members of the Rochester Police Department, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office and mental health experts. To enhance safety in designated areas, we wil...
Deputies Arrest Three Individuals Following Henrietta Domestic Incident with Multiple People Stabbed; One Convicted Felon Back Behind Bars
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025 at 6:29 p.m., Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a home on Reids Grove, Henrietta for the report of weapons at the location. While enroute, deputies were notified that several people at the location had been stabbed and two suspect vehicles left the location. Up...