Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero has made serving the community a career. He has also made it a lifetime achievement, setting the standard for what long-term, successful leadership looks like in a law enforcement setting.
He’ll be staying involved.
Even as Sheriff Povero approaches retirement, he says staying involved in the community he calls home; and has served for nearly 50 years. “It’s about public safety and about passion,” he explained, recounting the approach he takes with young people considering a future or career in law enforcement. “It’s not just a job, it’s a career,” he added.
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While it’s become more difficult in recent years – Povero says he believes that law enforcement is one of the greatest careers paths for someone looking to have a positive impact on their community.
“We come to work each day realizing that we’ve been given an enormous responsibility and duty,” he continued. “We have to do all we can to do keep the public safe. None of us are perfect. We’re all going to stub our toe – and we understand that – but there has to be a passion an energy for the process,” Povero concluded.
For Povero the passion hasn’t faded.
As for things he’d do differently over the last 27 years? There isn’t much, but he said on Inside the FLX that his lengthy career – even pre-dating his time as sheriff has taught him a lot.
“I think if I were going to give my younger self a piece of advice to help make my career a little easier or smoother – I’d tell myself to do a better job in listening. We recognize the importance of communications, but I think I’d tell myself to work harder to understand the needs of others,” he explained. “I take a lot of pride in listening and my communication skills, but I often criticize myself for having too much on my plate, and too large of a schedule,” he continued. “It’s not always just working harder or catching up. Sometimes it’s a matter of stopping- and listening.”
| Inside the FLX is a weekly program featuring conversations with local, regional, and state newsmakers on FingerLakes1.com, FingerLakes1.TV, and FL1 Radio. Hosted by FingerLakes1.com, Inc. News Director Josh Durso – the program was launched in 2015, and features more than 150 episodes, which are available on FingerLakes1.TV, the FingerLakes1.com YouTube Channel, and as a podcast on iTunes, Google Play, and Spotify (coming soon). Follow Inside the FLX host Josh Durso (@FLXJosh) on Twitter for the latest out of the FingerLakes1.com Newsroom. |
