The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office announces the arrest of one of its employees, 22-year-old Deputy Jamell Darden of Liverpool, New York. Darden, a recent graduate of the Custody/Corrections academy and employed with the Sheriff’s Office since January 10, 2025, has been charged with Forgery in the Second Degree and Falsifying Business Records in the First Degree, both felonies under New York State Penal Law.
The charges stem from an incident involving a pistol license application submitted by Darden to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Pistol Licensing Unit. During the mandatory background and reference check—an integral part of every pistol permit application—investigators discovered that Darden had forged the signatures of multiple character references on the PPB-3 form. Although those individuals agreed to serve as references, they did not sign the application themselves.
This act of forgery was discovered through standard verification procedures, which include personal calls to each listed reference. The Pistol Licensing Unit’s diligence and adherence to protocol directly led to the discovery of the forged documents and the subsequent criminal charges.
Deputy Darden was arrested earlier today by Sheriff’s detectives, booked, and is currently being held at the Onondaga County Justice Center awaiting arraignment.
The Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office has terminated Jamell Darden as of 6-11-2025.
Sheriff Toby Shelley issued the following statement:
“Our office holds pistol permit investigations to the highest standards because they are essential to public safety. Every applicant must go through a thorough, honest, and lawful process. Any attempt to circumvent that process, especially by a member of this office, will be fully investigated and prosecuted. No one is above the law, and integrity must be upheld at every level.”
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