Sheriff’s Department to reopen Newfield satellite station

A familiar face will be manning the soon-to-be-reopened Tompkins County Sheriff’s Department’s satellite location in the hamlet of Newfield.

Deputy Nathan Humble, third-generation Newfield resident, will be permanently stationed at the satellite location at the Newfield Town Hall, 166 Main St.

“I feel I’m a good fit for the community, having been raised here,” Humble said. “My father graduated from the school here. I graduated from it as well, and so did my son Jacob, who was ESPN’s athlete of the year last year.”

Although Humble is definitely a recognized figure in the Newfield community through residency and lineage, he will now be the face of the newly resurrected satellite location in the hamlet that he calls home.

“The satellite location will currently be manned from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day for now,” Humble said. “In the future, as resources and staffing allows, we will be adding a 3-to-11 p.m. officer that will be on duty and available to the community at this location as well. We should be up and running very soon.”

The Newfield satellite location had previously been closed due to restrictions imposed by the pandemic, including lack of staffing and financial constraints. Humble said he’s glad to see it reopening.

“With this satellite location, people will no longer have to go all the way up to Warren Road to access the Sheriff’s Department and some of the resources needed to address their concerns,” Humble explained. “Our doors are always open to the community for questions or concerns of any variety. It doesn’t have to be a formal complaint. If they have questions about resources or want advice on how to address a problem at home, they can come right in and talk to me.”

Humble, who has served with the Sheriff’s Department for 20 years, has held various positions in Tompkins County in addition to his current law enforcement role.

“I started off with the Village of Trumansburg Police Department,” Humble said. “I did two seasons with the New York State Park Police and was also an Ithaca College safety officer in the past. I have also served 12 1/2 years with the SWAT team.”

The reopening of the Newfield satellite office allows for an officer on duty and a car readily available, starting at 7 a.m. every day.

“Morning briefings can take between 30 and 40 minutes at the Sheriff’s Department on Warren Road,” Humble said. “Depending on the weather, it could make the briefing time even longer. This location will provide access to a deputy starting promptly first thing in the morning without any delays.”

Even though the opportunity for retirement is quickly approaching for Humble, he has no intention of taking it.

“I have always liked the job,” Humble said. “The aspect of the unknown has always intrigued me. You could be dealing with phone calls to arrests. You never really know.”

In his off time, Humble indulges his love of the outdoors by spending as much time as possible hunting and fishing.

“You have to have hobbies to take your mind off of your job,” Humble said. “It’s not healthy for you or your family if you don’t. You deal with sex abuse cases, assaults and traffic fatalities. You remember those accidents every time you drive by the spot it happened. A lot of people in this line of work need hobbies.”

Humble also takes an active role in the community by attending school meetings and playing pick-up basketball games with youth in the community.

“I like to be present in the community,” Humble said. “I genuinely care about what’s going on in the community and attend meetings and interact with people because of that. Plus, it puts a face to the position at the satellite station, where people can feel more comfortable coming to talk to me. I have a rapport I have developed with the people of Newfield.”

Humble’s wife, an administrator for the Ithaca City School District, and Humble’s sister and her son living in Newfield make his presence and roots in the community evident as more than just a deputy stationed within the hamlet.

“Even when I’m off duty, people feel comfortable enough to pick up the phone and call me if they see something concerning or have questions,” Humble said. “Depending on the circumstances, I sometimes have to refer them to a station to address their concerns or to an on-duty officer, but I like being accessible to address concerns and provide information.”

Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne, who recently announced his intention to run for reelection, is pleased with the reopening of this satellite station. On a list of goals Osborne compiled for 2022, this was at the top of the list for making access to the Sheriff’s Department a reality for the hamlet.

Humble is pleased that he was chosen by Osborne and Lt. Kyle Koskinen (see tinyurl.com/y8ndaxny) to represent his hometown and looks forward to his appointment.

“I like the small-town mentality of Newfield,” Humble said. “I love how the community bonds and pulls together to look after each other. I’m happy it’s my home.”

Newfield Notes appears every Wednesday in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Calligraphy demonstration

On April 20 at 3:30 p.m., the Newfield Public Library, 198 Main St., will host presenters from the Johnson Museum of Art, who will guide participants through various calligraphy demonstrations and lessons.

For more information or to register, visit newfieldlibrary.org or contact library staff at newfieldlibrary@gmail.com or (607) 564-3594.