Nearly 50 years in public service -- that’s what Alan Rozansky of the Erie County Sheriff's Office can claim.
7 Eyewitness News sat down with him to reflect on his biggest accomplishments, including a career dedicated to keeping the streets of local communities safe.
“I get a little choked up because I’ve been doing it so long, it's going to be tough not to do it,” said Rozansky.
After 47 years on the job, serving Erie County as Chief of Narcotics, Rozansky will hang up his hat and close his office door one last time.
“It's all I knew for so long, it'll be tough to walk away.”
A young Rozansky started his career at just 19 years old.
His storied career included the high profile case and arrest of Altemio Sanchez in 2007, the “bike path rapist” who killed multiple Western New York women. Rozansky was one of 12 on the “bike path rapist” task force.
“I would say it's one of the biggest cases I worked on. When they determined it was the bike path rapist, sheriff came to me and said you're on that task force and I think he thought I would give it 100 percent,” said Rozansky. “There were a lot of guys that worked on that. I credit them for their efforts.”
Rozansky has been the Chief of Narcotics for the past several years, working numerous drug raids throughout Erie County, getting illegal drugs off the streets. He credits his peers for his success.
“This is one elite unit we have and without a doubt successful because of their efforts.”
Rozansky has had a working relationship with the media for the past 20 years, through the Crimestoppers program. As a result, the department has apprehended hundreds of wanted individuals.
“I gave it 100 percent all the time, and you know I just, you know I very seldom took a day off and I loved every minute of it.”
Rozansky says he plans on spending more time with his family in his retirement.
