On January 14, 2018, Kevin Henderson announced his candidacy for Ontario County Sheriff, stating:
“It has been my honor and privilege to work for the residents of Ontario County as a deputy sheriff. I have dedicated over thirty-three years to public service and I look forward to applying my experience to serve the community as Ontario County Sheriff.”
A veteran law enforcement officer, Henderson has served the Ontario County Sheriff’s office in wide-ranging capacities. Henderson began his career in 1984 as a part-time deputy in the marine unit. He then served as a full time corrections officer followed by an assignment as a road patrol deputy.
Henderson’s duties included: Narcotics K-9 handler, Community Police Officer, School Resource Officer, Field Training Officer, Drug Abuse Resistance Educator (DARE), Police Instructor and member of the Underwater Search and Recovery Team. Henderson was a former Union President and negotiated several contracts, and he is currently an officer with the Ontario County Police Benevolent Association.
Henderson retired from full time service in 2008 and continues to serve as a part-time deputy. In 2010, Henderson was elected Ontario County Coroner and was re-elected in 2014. Henderson is currently the Vice Chair of the Ontario County Traffic Safety Council and is also a member of the Ontario County Safety Council. He supports the Partnership for Ontario County and serves on several coalitions and committees, including: the Substance Abuse Coalition, Unwanted Prescription Take Back Program, No Where to Go Coalition, Suicide Prevention Coalition, Juvenile Fatality Review Committee, Juvenile Sex Trafficking Committee and the Child Advocacy Center. Henderson is a board member of the Canandaigua Emergency Squad and the New York State Association of County Coroners and Medical Examiners. Henderson is also a member of the Merrill Hose Company in Canandaigua and a Son of the Legion with the Canandaigua American Legion Post 256.
Henderson has been a member of a Federal Emergency Response Team with the Division of Health and Human Services since 2002. He is assigned as a Mortuary Officer with the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team Region ll (DMORT) Henderson has been deployed to New Orleans, following Hurricane Katrina, Clarence, New York for the Continental 3407 plane crash and recently to Puerto Rico, in response to Hurricane Maria. This team consists of experts in there fields to help with the recovery, identification and to support local mortuary services. Henderson, along with 10 other members of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office responded to New York City after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, on the World Trade Center and assisted in the recovery of those who lost their lives.
Kevin Henderson received his Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Finger Lakes Community College and has an Associates Degree in Mortuary Science from the Simmons School of Mortuary Science, Syracuse, New York.
For generations the Henderson family has been committed to law enforcement and public service. Kevin Henderson’s grandfather Charles, Sr., served over 30 years as a patrolman with the Canandaigua City Police Department. His father, Charles, served over 29 years with the New York State Police attaining the rank of Lieutenant. Kevin’s mother Mary, worked in the Civil Division at the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office for 19 years and Kevin’s brother, Mark Henderson, is the Chief of Police for the Town of Brighton, Monroe County.
As Ontario County’s next Sheriff, Henderson vows to strengthen relationships between all members of the community and law enforcement. Everyone has the right to be safe and secure; to be treated with dignity and respect; irrespective of race, gender, ethnic background or socio-economic status.
Kevin Henderson is the son of Mary and Charles Henderson, the father of two children, a grandfather and lives in Canandaigua with his wife Cindy.
The following is a re-published press release from Henderson for Sheriff, and was not written by any member of the FL1 News Staff.
