Voters decide next top cop

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Erie County residents are heading to the polls to decide who will be the county's next top cop.

It's a race that's been consumed with negative ads and finger pointing.

Most of the issues deal with the management of the Erie County Holding Center.

Sheriff Howard has blamed a lack of resources.

Captain John Glascott charges it's poor management.

"Law suits, escapes, tragic consequences. We need a switch," said Glascott.

Captain Glascott sees himself as the underdog in the sheriff's race, but has come out hard against Tim Howard's running of the holding center and correctional facility in Alden.

Glascott's political ad states, "One prisoner escape after another, an inmate is charged with escape then charged with raping a woman at knife point while free."

Howard accuses Glascott of running a negative campaign and says he has done the best he can with limited resources.

"I'm quite confident that the voters are going to recognize the problems that we had at the jail had to do with a lack of resources, but it's a problem that's behind us," Howard explained.

"To try to tear Tim Howard down for the sake of a political campaign is wrong, and it disgusts me. John Glascott, you insult every man and woman who wears a badge," says Howard's political ad.

Captain Glascott said, "Too much blame going on for too many years. It's their fault. They're out to get me. The county legislature's not giving me money. No. Take some responsibility, step up and get the job done."

But Sheriff Howard exclaimed, "Again, I believe that the voters and the people I've seen as I've traveled around will see through what's been negative print media that's painting a picture different than what it actually is."