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The U.S. Justice Department will provide assistance in conducting a technical review of the two and a half day stand-off in Danby between law enforcement and David Cady, which ended when it was discovered that Cady had shot himself dead.  County Legislator Mike Sigler told the Lansing Town Board Wednesday that once a plan is in place the review will take six to eight months.  Sigler also alluded to a letter the Legislature received from former Undersheriff Derek Osbourne condemning Sheriff Ken Lansing's management of the incident and the Sheriff's Department in general.

"The Sheriff is an elected official, as you know, and while the Legislature funds the department, it does not oversee the Sheriff," Sigler said.  "The Legislature doesn't really have a role in reprimanding him.  The voters do that. It will be interesting to see who runs against him next time around.  It's unclear yet what the Legislature reaction will be to the letter and if any action will be taken if there is an avenue for action available."

In his nine page letter Osbourne praises law eforcement officers involved in the incident, but scathingly criticizes the Sheriff's behavior during and after the incident.

"In my opinion, the entire Hornbrook Road response was easily defendable based on the facts surrounding it, and the good work of those involved," Osbourne writes.  "It's unfortunate that Sheriff Lansing's words have to tarnish the facts."

Osbourne didn't mince words in his condemnation of Lansing and current Undersheriff Brian Robison.  He documented a number of incidents in which Lansing was unresponsive or unreachable.  He included the Hornbbrook Road incident in that, noting that Lansing implied in public statements that Osbourne had chosen not to contact him.

In a Q&A released by Danby officials this week Lansing is quoted as saying, "Derek Osbourne was in charge on the scene and made the decision that further contact with the Sheriff was not necessary at that time. That is what second-in-charge people do. The Sheriff cannot be everywhere and be on duty 24/7."

But in his letter Osbourne documents repeated attempts to do so.  He condemned Lansing for shifting blame for the Hornbrook Road incident to him, saying that he is "not happy about having my name and reputation unjustifiably tarnished in the public record."

He also accused some legislators of colluding with Lansing and Robison in hatching a plan to oust him in favor of Robison, while singling out Peter Stein for praise as the only member of the Legislature and County administration who reached out to him directly to ask questions.  Osbourne says he has no political aspirations, that Lansing was abusive, and implies the Sheriff forced him to 'resign' at a time when Osbourne was out due to health issues.

Osbourne, a Lansing resident, began his law enforcement career in 1995as a Cortland police Department Patrolman, then joined the Tompkins County Sheriff's office in 2001 where he worked his way up to Criminal Investigator, Senior Investigator, and Captain.  He was appointed Undersheriff when Lansing was elected.

Robison unsuccessfully ran against Sheriff Peter Meskill in 2006.  Before that he had served on the Ithaca Police force for over 20 years.  Lansing served in law enforcement for 37 years, 33 of them in the Cayuga Heights Police, from which he retired in 2007 as Chief of Police.  In 2010 he defeated Meskill in a hotly contested Sheriff's race.  In 2010 Robison was elected to the Tompkins County Legislature.  When Lansing announced that Osbourne was retiring from the Sheriff's office he appointed Robison to take his place.  Robison resigned from the Legislature in late November to take the Undersheriff position.  Osbourne wrote that Robison did not have any "institutional knowledge or the experience needed to take on such a role."

"The Sheriff is way over his head and always has been," Osbourne concludes.  "As far as Undersheriff Robison goes, he's simply an opportunist who will do anything, or hurt anyone, to obtain the position of Sheriff.  As someone who actually worked their way up in the Sheriff's office, and who could gift wrap both of them together with my printed resumé, it is of my opinion that both Sheriff Lansing and Undersheriff Robison need to resign."

Sigler seemed skeptical that the Legislature would have a role in investigating or acting on Osbourne's claims.  He said the Public Safety Committee will likely take up the issues raised in the letter and decide whether there are any available avenues for action by the Legislature.

Deputy Administrator Younger told the Legislature Tuesday that the National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTZAC) will develop a technical assistance plan that she said could take up to 45 days to complete.

"The technical assistance, which will be provided to the County at no cost, will include an after-action technical review and will identify 'lessons learned' based on best practices," Sigler said.  "The program will also assist in identifying strategies for improving community relations."

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