Rensselaer County Sheriff-elect Pat Russo has picked Ed Bly to be his undersheriff as of Jan. 1, 2016.
Bly will succeed Russo in the sheriff office’s number two post. Russo is Sheriff Jack Mahar’s undersheriff.
Russo considered a number of candidates for the key post before turning to Bly.
Here’s the announcement Russo released Monday:
Troy, N.Y. – Sheriff-Elect Patrick A. Russo announces the appointment of Edward R. Bly to the position of Undersheriff, effective January 1, 2016.
Mr. Bly is a life-long resident of Rensselaer County, graduating from Berlin Central Jr./Sr. High School in 1983, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a Military Policeman.
In 1988, Mr. Bly became a New York State Corrections Officer, retiring in 2013, after 25 ½ years, as an Assistant Commissioner.
During his 25-year tenure with the Department of Corrections, Mr. Bly held the ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Colonel. Mr. Bly served as the training academy Captain and Field Commander, responsible for the Correction Emergency Response Team (CERT) operations. In 2006, Mr. Bly was promoted to the Department’s highest uniform rank, Colonel/Director of CERT, within the Office of Special Operations. In this capacity, Mr. Bly had direct oversight of department-wide CERT and emergency planning and preparedness, serving as the department’s representative to Homeland Security and law enforcement liaison.
In September of 2013, Mr. Bly joined the ranks of the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office as the Chief of Correctional Facility Operations.
“I have had the opportunity to observe Chief Bly’s accomplishments over the last two years and recognize he possesses the necessary qualifications for the position of Undersheriff.”
“I am looking forward to working with him in his new position to assure the Sheriff’s Office moves forward in a positive direction, providing the citizens of Rensselaer County with a high degree of safety and security in a professional and fiscally responsible manner.”
A swearing-in ceremony for the Sheriff and Undersheriff will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at the Rensselaer County Jail.
