Chief James W. Tuffey

Chief Tuffey retired from the Albany Police Department in 1995 at the rank of Detective.  He worked as a confidential investigator in the New York State Department of Labor before becoming Public Safety Commissioner for the City of Cohoes in 1996.  He handled the day-to-day operations for the Cohoes Police Department and administratively oversaw communications of the Cohoes Fire Department and Public Safety Communications.

Chief Tuffey joined the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation in 1998 as Assistant Commissioner for the Office of Public Protection.  His responsibilities included overseeing the Division of Law Enforcement and the Division of Forest Rangers.

Serving as the DEC liaison to the New York State Emergency Management Office Chief Tuffey was instrumental in the development of the Y2K preparedness plans, has served on the Weapons of Mass Destruction Task Force since 2000 and was the executive lead for more than 500 DEC members involved in the response of the attack on the World Trade Center on 9/11.

To meet the new emergency preparedness demands of the post 9/11 world Chief Tuffey was appointed Director of SEMO by Governor George E. Pataki on July 26, 2004.

Chief Tuffey began his law enforcement career with the Albany Police Department in 1975.  During his service with the department, Chief Tuffey served as president of the Albany Police Officers Union from 1980-1994 and Secretary of the 27,000 member New York State Law Enforcement Union, Council 82 from 1991-1995.

Chief Tuffey is a graduate of Empire State College and resides in Albany with his wife Annette and his daughters, Ellen and Maura.