MONTICELLO - Sullivan County Commissioner of Public Safety Rick Sauer will be leaving his position effective July 9. He has accepted an offer to become the Emergency Services Director for Sampson County, NC.

“It has been a great honor to serve the Sullivan County residents and visitors over the past three and a half years as the Commissioner of Public Safety and for the past 30 years as a member of several different organizations including the New York State Police and the Liberty Fire Department,” Sauer said. “It has been a very difficult choice to move on, but I think it is the best decision for my family.”

Sauer has served as Commissioner since 2017, overseeing the 911 communications center, probation, emergency medical services, fire services and emergency management.

“It was a pleasure to work with Mr. Sauer during his time of service with the county,” said County Manager Joshua Potosek. “He was integral in various emergency responses, including severe storms, but most notably responding to the COVID pandemic.”

District 4 Legislator Nicholas Salomone Jr., Chair of the Legislature's Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee, remarked, “Rick's tenure included some of the toughest situations the county ever faced, yet he always remained professional and polite, keeping the legislature up to date.”

A search for a replacement will commence immediately, according to Potosek. “We wish Mr. Sauer the best,” he said.