I would like to clear the record of some inaccurate and misleading information that was conveyed in last week’s edition, both from Eric Schiener, candidate for District Attorney and Kimberly Moran, retired Sheriff’s Investigator, but also wife of former District Attorney Thomas E. Moran.

First and foremost, with respect to my time in the Monroe County District Attorneys Office, where I personally prosecuted over 250 felonies, over 2,000 misdemeanors and have both trial and grand jury experience that far exceeds and surpasses that of my opponents, I think everyone would agree that Livingston County is not Monroe County.

Monroe County has crime rates that far exceed those we have here in Livingston County, where I was born and raised, yet to somehow assert that Monroe County follows a different legal standard and is not applying the same state and federal constitutions, penal law or criminal procedure law is disingenuous.

Further, by asserting that law enforcement officers are merely faceless badge numbers on a report or do not have both a personal and professional relationship with the Assistant District Attorneys of Monroe County is offensive.

These officers, like law enforcement here in our county, risk their lives everyday to protect and serve the community and the attorneys prosecuting the cases always make the time and effort to discuss the cases, prepare their witnesses and uphold their duty.

Within our county there are hundreds of current and retired law enforcement officials who have had the opportunity to work in Monroe County, and I guarantee each and everyone of these officials will vouch for the professionalism, work load and working relationship they maintained with the District Attorneys Office.

What is further offensive is the assertion that I am somehow inexperienced and do not truly understand the values of the people of Livingston County.

I have spent nearly everyday of my professional career in a courtroom, from prosecuting cases across two counties, defending criminal cases throughout Western New York and have handled the leadership role of this office seamlessly since May. Three generations of my family call this county home and after growing up in York, marrying a Lima girl and raising my family here, it is again offensive to state that I somehow do not understand the needs of this community.

In terms of handling cases stemming from the two state prisons in our county, Eric Schiener neglects the statistics that support the change in office policy under my leadership. From January 2008 until May 2012, this office accepted prosecution on 12 of 80 investigations from these two facilities, yet under my leadership since June, we have prosecuted four of seven cases.

Of significance is that the corrections officers within these prisons, who would appear to be in the best position to understand the cases stemming from their prison and when they are prosecuted, have chosen to endorse me as their candidate (New York State Correctional Officers Police Benevolent Association, or NYSCOPBA).

The editorial of Kimberly Moran has several glaring omissions and errors, including: the failure to mention that she is married to the only person who ever hired Eric Schiener for a job; that the display of “partisan politics” in having Eric Schiener resign was one of necessity given the unwillingness of the county to pay the salaries of a staff that was increasing from seven to eight attorneys and also the inability to facilitate the positive changes instituted over the last five months while having a political opponent within the same office who would be resistant to change after 12 years of following the prior administration; that Mrs. Moran had previously retired before I was appointed, and that we never had the opportunity to work together.

Her assertion that I am offering premature plea deals is without merit and is completely unsupported, there has been nothing in any of my policies that has enabled defendants to be released from jail sooner and any felonies reduced to misdemeanors have been supported by the facts of the case.

Simply put, my aggressive approach to prosecution and foresight to screen and resolve cases in the early stages where appropriate, has helped crime victims, the county and law enforcement.

Further, and while aware of all the facts, proof and circumstances of the case, I stand 100 percent behind my decision against seeking jail time for those 18-21 year old college volleyball players who were involved in an alcohol related incident in September.

I ask each and every voter to take a moment and not be misled by statements that are wholly unsupported.

I ask each and every voter to decide what experience really is and then vote to keep the District Attorney who has remained non-partisan from day one, who grew up in Livingston County, who has been both a prosecutor and defense attorney, who has the most trial, grand jury and leadership experience and who is the only candidate endorsed by law enforcement.

Vote to Keep Greg McCaffrey District Attorney. Gregory J. McCaffrey, Livingston County District Attorney.

Greg McCaffrey is the Livingston County District Attorney and the Democratic and Independence Party candidate for the office.