Provided information/Genesee County Sheriff’s Office
Officer of the Year Award – Kenneth A. Quackenbush, III
Deputy Sheriff Kenneth A. Quackenbush, III has distinguished himself in the performance of service to the citizens of Genesee County during 2022.
Deputy Quackenbush is a six-year member of the Sheriff’s Office, with almost four of those years on Road Patrol. Deputy Quackenbush consistently displays a professional, positive attitude and unwavering work ethic. He is levelheaded and has received accolades for his calm demeanor and de-escalation during tense situations. Deputy Quackenbush has been a leader in traffic enforcement that often leads to larger cases, including those for impaired driving. He had several notable felony arrests in 2022, which included illegal weapon and drug possession cases. Deputy Quackenbush has developed trust within the department as shown by him being a Field Training Officer, Drug Recognition Expert, a member of the Emergency Response Team and is looked upon for other special assignments.
Deputy Sheriff Kenneth A. Quackenbush, III has reflected great credit upon himself and the Genesee
County Sheriff’s Office and most deserves to be named Officer of the Year.
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Distinguished Service Award – Principal Financial Clerk Margaret A. Sheelar
Principal Financial Clerk Margaret A. Sheelar has distinguished herself as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office for over 20 years.
Principal Financial Clerk Margaret A. Sheelar began her career on August 1, 2000. During her career, she was the recipient of two Meritorious Service awards for her dedication in the performance of her duties.
Margaret’s professionalism, coupled with her knowledge of Sheriff’s Office operations, has been a source of pride for this Agency. This year, as in previous years, Margaret continues to pay diligent attention to the financial needs of the Sheriff’s Office. She frequently assists administration with tasks that go well beyond her listed duties to ensure smooth operations and is always willing to take on additional responsibilities without hesitation.
Principal Financial Clerk Margaret A. Sheelar reflects great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
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LONGEVITY AWARDS:
Correction Officer Lewis A. Henning 10 years
Program Coordinator Tracy L. Ranney 10 years
Correction Officer Michael A. Cox 15 years
Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher Robert H. Tripp 20 years
Emergency Services Dispatcher Beth A. Hynes 20 years
Correction Officer Michael F. Lindsley 20 years
Sergeant Thomas A. Sanfratello 30 years
Jail Superintendent William A. Zipfel 40 years
Sheriff William A. Sheron, Jr. 45 years
MERITORIOUS AWARDS:
Sr. Correction Officer James M. Smart
Senior Correction Officer James M. Smart has distinguished himself by Meritorious Service as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior Correction Officer Smart has been instrumental in maintaining the inmate telephone system and
tablets. He has worked diligently to reorganize the inmate files and the file room, which is no small task.
Senior Correction Officer Smart has voluntarily taken on these additional responsibilities while continuing
to do a stellar job with his normal duties.
Senior Correction Officer James M. Smart has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County
Sheriff’s Office.
Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher John W. Spencer, II
Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher John W. Spencer, II has distinguished himself by
Meritorious Service as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior Dispatcher Spencer continues to demonstrate excellent leadership of his shift and provides
guidance for dispatchers, especially newer dispatchers. He performs additional duties including
schedule management, emergency medical call reviews, and is a Certified Training Officer. Additionally,
Senior Dispatcher Spencer demonstrates his commitment to providing excellent service to the public
and to first responders along with a willingness to adapt to meet new challenges.
Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher John W. Spencer, II has brought great credit upon himself and
the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Sheriff Nicholas R. Chamoun
Deputy Sheriff Nicholas R. Chamoun has distinguished himself by Meritorious Service as a member of
the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Chamoun’s outstanding dedication to law enforcement is apparent year after year. He is a Drug
Recognition Expert and a member of the Emergency Response Team. Deputy Chamoun is always
eager to learn by way of formal training, researching, and learning on his own. He takes the knowledge
he gains and shares it with other members in the department. Deputy Chamoun is aggressive in his
vehicle traffic enforcement and puts his knowledge to use on his patrol in order to look “beyond the
ticket” to identify criminal activity. His efforts have resulted in felony arrests for illegal drugs and weapons
on a consistent basis, thus making our community much safer.
Deputy Sheriff Nicholas R. Chamoun has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County
Sheriff’s Office.
Investigator R. Pete Welker
Investigator R. Pete Welker has distinguished himself by Meritorious Service as a member of the
Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigator Welker began his career at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office in 1994, and has
dedicated 22 years to the Genesee County Drug Task Force. Investigator Welker has consistently
brought forward the highest-quality narcotics investigations leading to successful criminal
prosecutions. Investigator Welker’s efforts and dedication to narcotics enforcement have
significantly reduced the potential of violent crime in Genesee County.
Investigator R. Pete Welker has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County
Sheriff’s Office.
Community / Victim Services Counselor Rosanne M. DeMare
Community / Victim Services Counselor Rosanne M. DeMare has distinguished herself by
Meritorious Service as a member of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Rosanne continuously puts victim interests first and foremost and spends countless hours
comforting victims in distress and providing them with the emotional support needed to work through
the complex criminal justice process. She is compassionate and knowledgeable and is determined
to ensure that victim rights and needs are met with the utmost respect and dignity.
Community / Victim Services Counselor Rosanne M. DeMare has brought great credit upon herself
and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
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COMMENDATIONS:
Correction Officer Matthew M. Luce
Correction Officer Matthew M. Luce is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his added
responsibility of maintaining the inmate property room.
Unclaimed inmate property is documented and inventoried; and once sufficient time has passed,
paperwork is initiated to destroy the abandoned property. Correction Officer Luce’s diligence keeps
the property room free of clutter and makes for a more orderly property storage area. He has
voluntarily taken on this additional responsibility while continuing to do an excellent job with his
normal duties.
Correction Officer Matthew M. Luce is to be commended for his actions which have brought great
credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Emergency Services Dispatcher Shelby M. Turner
Emergency Services Dispatcher Shelby M. Turner is being recognized for a Commendation Award for
her actions during historic Blizzard Elliott that occurred December 23 – December 25, 2022.
The blizzard inflicted sub-zero wind chill temperatures and blinding lake-effect snow that left numerous
highways and roads impassable. This event generated over 3,200 total phone calls and 953 distinct
calls for service. This was the busiest day in the history of the Genesee County Emergency Services
Dispatch Center. Dispatcher Turner played a vital role in addressing the tremendous demands placed
upon the 9-1-1 Center during this extraordinary event.
Emergency Services Dispatcher Shelby M. Turner is to be commended for her actions which have
brought great credit upon herself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputy Sheriff Jeremiah W. Gechell
Deputy Sheriff Jeremiah W. Gechell is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his actions
while on duty May 7, 2022.
At approximately 0300 hours, Deputy Gechell observed a vehicle driving in an erratic manner in the
City of Batavia. Deputy Gechell initiated a traffic stop and found the driver was acting in a suspicious
manner and providing inconsistent information. Deputy Gechell’s instincts prompted him to investigate
further by individually interviewing all three occupants in the vehicle. Deputy Gechell found there to be
several discrepancies in each of their explanations which prompted him to call for assistance from the
K-9 unit to search the vehicle. A large quantity of narcotics was discovered, which included cocaine,
fentanyl, and methamphetamine, resulting in felony arrests of the three occupants of the vehicle. More
importantly, high quantities of dangerous narcotics never made their way onto the streets. Deputy
Gechell’s instincts and investigation are to be credited and commended for this.
Deputy Sheriff Jeremiah W. Gechell is to be commended for his actions which have brought great credit
upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
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2022 BLIZZARD ELLIOTT AWARDS:
The following are being recognized for their heroic actions during historic Blizzard Elliott that occurred December 23 – December 25, 2022. Blizzard Elliott inflicted sub-zero wind chill temperatures and blinding lake-effect snow that left numerous highways and roads impassable. Multiple motorists were stranded in their vehicles for several hours and were not easily accessible by emergency first responders. Without hesitation for their own safety, these employees worked considerable additional hours to rescue motorists. Their brave actions that holiday weekend, undoubtedly, saved many lives. They are to be commended for their actions which have brought great credit upon themselves and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
COMMENDATIONS:
Undersheriff Bradley D. Mazur, Deputy Sheriff Rachel M. Diehl, Deputy Sheriff Jonathan M. Dimmig,
Chief Deputy-Criminal Investigations Joseph M. Graff, Deputy Sheriff Eric J. Meyer, Deputy Sheriff Kyle J. Tower.
Chief Deputy-Road Patrol Brian M. Frieday, Deputy Sheriff Ryan W. Young, Deputy Sheriff Zachary P. Hoy.
Sergeant Jason E. Saile, Deputy Sheriff Robert C. Henning, Deputy Sheriff Morgan C. Ewert.
Sergeant Andrew B. Hale, Deputy Sheriff Jeremy M. McClellan, Deputy Sheriff Ryan J. Mullen.
Sergeant Michael J. Lute, Deputy Sheriff Travis M. DeMuth, Deputy Sheriff Alexander R. Hadsall.
Sergeant Mathew J. Clor, Deputy Sheriff James D. Stack, Deputy Sheriff Carlos O. Ortiz Speed.
Sergeant Kyle D. Krzemien, Deputy Sheriff Andrew Z. Mullen, Deputy Sheriff Ayrton J. Blankenberg.
Investigator Erik B. Andre Deputy, Sheriff Joshua A. Brabon, Deputy Sheriff Jacob A. Kipler.
Deputy Sheriff Patrick J. Reeves, Deputy Sheriff David D. Moore, Deputy Sheriff Mason S. Schultz.
Deputy Sheriff Richard S. Schildwaster, Deputy Sheriff Jordan M. Alejandro.
Deputy Sheriff Kevin R. McCarthy assisted rescue efforts by operating his personal snowmobile to reach stranded motorists in their vehicles.
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Blizzard Elliott generated over 3,200 total phone calls and 953 distinct calls for service, resulting in the busiest day in the history of the Genesee County Emergency Services Dispatch Center. The following communications personnel played a vital role in addressing the tremendous demands placed upon the 9-1-1 Center during this extraordinary event and are to be commended for their actions which have brought great credit to themselves and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
COMMENDATIONS:
Director of Emergency Comm. Francis A. Riccobono Emergency Services Dispatcher Andrew K. Merkel
Public Safety Systems Manager Justin T. Allen, Emergency Services Dispatcher Samantha L. Conibear,
Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher Robert H. Tripp, Emergency Services Dispatcher Emily K. Young,
Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher Jason W. Holman, Emergency Services Dispatcher Shelby M. Turner,
Sr. Emergency Services Dispatcher Michael T. Sheflin, Emergency Services Dispatcher Matthew F. Grimes,
Emergency Services Dispatcher Stephen R. Smelski, Emergency Services Dispatcher Shaylene S. Kilner,
Emergency Services Dispatcher Peggy D. Richardson, PT Emergency Services Dispatcher Cady E. Glor,
Emergency Services Dispatcher Kelly E. Smith, PT Emergency Services Dispatcher Marie A. Vaughn,
Emergency Services Dispatcher Nathan L. Fix, while off duty and in his capacity as Vice-President of Genesee Sno Packers, played a crucial role in securing the use of its Tucker snow grooming machine that led a convoy of first responders to reach stranded motorists who had been in their vehicles for multiple hours.
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION:
– Anita Cleveland for welcoming one of our deputies who was stranded on the road in front of her house, along with two motorists that he previously rescued from their stranded vehicle, into her home where she provided comfort, food and shelter.
– Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Jeffrey R. Bartz, his wife, Jami, and Grace Baptist Church. Multiple motorists were stranded for several hours in their vehicles and once rescued were in need of a place to shelter until the blizzard passed and roads opened. Chaplain Bartz, without hesitation, assisted with the opening of Grace Baptist Church as a warming shelter, and he and his wife spent the holiday weekend providing comfort, food, and shelter to strangers in need.
Emergency Services Dispatcher Nathan L. Fix, while off duty and in his capacity as Vice-President of Genesee Sno Packers, played a crucial role in securing the use of its Tucker snow grooming machine that led a convoy of first responders to reach stranded motorists who had been in their vehicles for multiple hours. Deputy Sheriff Kevin R. McCarthy assisted rescue efforts by operating his personal snowmobile to reach stranded motorists in their vehicles.
– Genesee Sno Packers provided its Tucker snow grooming machine to lead a convoy of first responders to reach multiple stranded motorists.
– Anthony Johnston is a member of the Genesee Sno Packers, and he volunteered his time to drive its Tucker snow grooming machine, jeopardizing his own safety to assist patrols.