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Officer of the Year Award –
Deputy Sheriff Chad Cummings has distinguished himself in the performance of service to the citizens of Genesee County during 2023.
Deputy Sheriff Chad P. Cummings is a nine-year member of the Sheriff’s Office, with the last three of those years assigned to the Civil Office. Deputy Cummings consistently displays a professional, positive attitude and unwavering work ethic. Deputy Cummings has been a leader in civil enforcement (one of the most dangerous duties a Deputy performs). He always accepts special assignments and has taken on additional duties, such as completing the Seal Orders in the Records Division, assisting Road Patrol with inmate transports, and handling multiple traffic complaints.
Deputy Sheriff Chad P. Cummings 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 –
Senior Correction Officer Jason R. Queal has distinguished himself as a member of the Genesee County
Sheriff’s Office for 11 years.
Senior Correction Officer Jason R. Queal began his career on January 19, 2013. During his career, he was the recipient of a Meritorious Service award for his consistent dedication in the performance of his duties. Senior C.O. Queal is the Grievance Coordinator; he thoroughly investigates and resolves each inmate’s complaint effectively and professionally. Additionally, he is the liaison with the Commission of Corrections, assisting with the jail’s cycle reviews, and he is a firearms and defensive tactics instructor. Senior C.O. Queal frequently assists administration with tasks that go well beyond his listed duties to ensure smooth operations and is always willing to take on additional responsibilities without hesitation.
Senior Correction Officer Jason R. Queal has reflected great credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
LONGEVITY AWARDS:
Senior Correction Officer Jason R. Queal 10 years
Sergeant Andrew B. Hale 10 years
Case Manager Nicole M. Easton 10 years
Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher Michael T. Sheflin 15 years
Senior Emergency Services Dispatcher Jason W. Holman 15 years
Sergeant James M. Diehl 15 years
Deputy Sheriff Kevin R. McCarthy 15 years
Principal Financial Clerk Deborah A. Shea 15 years
Director of Emergency Communications Francis A. Riccobono 15 years
Jail Cook William S. Cultrara 15 years
Correction Officer Daniel J. Renz 20 years
Senior Correction Officer Caleb C. Chaya 20 years
Correction Officer Brian M. Manley 25 years
Senior Correction Officer Peter M. Hoy 25 years
MERITORIOUS AWARDS:
Correction Officer Jason Buck
Correction Officer Jason M. Buck has distinguished himself by Meritorious Service as a member of the
Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Correction Officer Buck has been instrumental in utilizing his communications skills to de-escalate
multiple situations with hostile inmates to resolve incidents calmly and without force. He voluntarily
accepts additional responsibilities such as assisting the grievance coordinator, training new officers, and
accepting overtime shifts when needed. Correction Officer Jason M. Buck is a true asset to the
department; his professionalism, dedication, and work ethic are an example for others.
Correction Officer Jason M. Buck has brought great credit upon himself and the Genesee County
Sheriff’s Office.
COMMENDATIONS:
Sergeant Jason E. Saile, Deputy Jenna M. Ferrando, & Deputy Chad P. Cummings
These officers are being recognized for their actions while on duty on October 2, 2023. A call was
received for a trespass complaint at a local hotel. It was determined that a guest had no way to pay
for her room and was asked to leave. The guest was with two children and stated they would be
homeless if they left the hotel. Attempts to secure assistance were unsuccessful because there was
none unavailable. These officers paid out of their own pockets for a room for the night at a nearby
hotel and for food to feed the family. Additionally, they made six trips to move the family’s belongings
from one hotel to the other. These officers are to be commended for their actions which have brought
great credit upon themselves and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
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Deputy Jeremiah W. Gechell
Deputy Sheriff Jeremiah W. Gechell is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his actions
while off duty August 10, 2023. Deputy Gechell came upon a two-car motor vehicle accident that had
just occurred on Main Road in the Town of Pembroke. Without hesitation, Deputy Gechell stopped to
assist at the scene and immediately contacted the Genesee County Emergency Services Dispatch
Center with important information that a typical citizen may not know to relay. Deputy Gechell was
able to apply his own tourniquet to one of the patients that had suffered a severe leg injury and was
bleeding profusely. By applying the tourniquet, it stopped major blood loss until additional assistance
arrived and, undoubtedly, contributed to saving the patient’s life. 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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Sergeant Mathew J. Clor
Sergeant Mathew J. Clor is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his actions while on duty
December 27, 2023. A 9-1-1 EMS call was received for a resident with an arm laceration. Sergeant
Clor was nearby and responded to the call. Upon arrival, Sergeant Clor found a male bleeding heavily
from his arm as a result of an accident with a storm door. Without hesitation, Sergeant Clor applied his
own tourniquet to the patient and in doing so was able to stop the excessive bleeding until medical
assistance arrived. Sergeant Clor’s quick actions and instincts prevented more serious injury to the
patient. Sergeant Mathew J. Clor 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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Deputy James D. Stack
Deputy Sheriff James D. Stack is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his instrumental
coordination and implementation of the Sheriff’s Office handgun replacement project. Deputy Stack
proposed a transition and replacement of the Sheriff’s Office duty handguns by supplying rationale
citing the benefit and need for an updated firearm platform and estimated costs for the project. Deputy
Stack assisted with the logistics of acquiring the needed equipment and was integral in the planning for
the implementation of a training program. The effort put forth by Deputy Stack on this project resulted
in a state-of-the-art, updated firearm platform for the Sheriff’s Office duty handguns. Deputy Sheriff
James D. Stack 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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Investigator Ryan M. DeLong
Investigator Ryan M. DeLong is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his instrumental
contribution in acquiring a Mobile Response Unit for the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Investigator
DeLong proposed that the Sheriff’s Office had a need for a vehicle which could be primarily used as a
mobile operations center. In addition to his primary investigative responsibilities, Investigator DeLong
researched solutions and was able to identify and acquire, with minimal expense, a vehicle which could
suit the needs of the Office. Investigator DeLong followed through with outfitting the vehicle with
necessary equipment and has been instrumental in the Sheriff’s Office being able to put a Mobile
Response Unit into service to better serve the community. Further, Investigator DeLong continues to
be proactive with combating organized retail crime efforts. Investigator Ryan M. DeLong 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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Investigator Erik B. Andre
Investigator Erik B. Andre is being recognized for a Commendation Award for his continuous work
creating proactive investigations. Throughout 2023, Investigator Andre has maintained a substantial
caseload of active investigations as well as aggressively combatting retail theft crime. Investigator
Andre has worked to develop cases which may not had otherwise been pursued as they were not
initially reported by the stores themselves. By pursuing these cases, Investigator Andre not only holds
the perpetrators accountable, but he has also developed information which has been valuable in other
investigations. Investigator Erik B. Andre is to be commended for his actions which have brought great
credit upon himself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Senior Correction Officer James M. Smart and Correction Officers Dennis J. Bartholomew,
Laurie J. Schwab, Tyler M. Tambe, Chester L. Sherman, & Katherine M. Stearns
These officers are being recognized for their actions while on duty on December 20, 2023. At
approximately 5:29 pm, there was an incident of an inmate-attempted suicide. Officers remained calm,
secured the scene, responded quickly, and worked together to resuscitate the inmate. These officers
are to be commended for their courage and quick actions which have brought great credit upon
themselves and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
Lead Family Advocate Jacqueline M. O’Brien & Family Advocate Lydia J. Schauf
These advocates are being recognized for being instrumental in providing the Child Safety Matters child
abuse prevention curriculum to over 3,000 children in the Batavia and Byron-Bergen school districts in
grades kindergarten through eighth. This prevention education curriculum has shown to empower
children with information to enhance their ability to reduce the risk of neglect, cyber crimes, bullying,
physical abuse, and sexual abuse. O’Brien went above and beyond her typical workload with many
sessions provided when the CAC was short staffed. These advocates are to be commended for their
actions which have brought great credit upon herself and the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION:
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– JFCAC Program Coordinator Theresa Roth for her eight years of service. She has served the citizens of Genesee County with professionalism, dedication, enthusiasm, and has been a source of pride for the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office.
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– Gary Patnode for his assistance in improving training space for department firearms. When the training staff inquired about improving a room to clean and maintain department firearms, Gary used personal time and his own supplies to build countertops to enhance the room’s space and capability. His efforts have resulted in an improved and dedicated space to maintain equipment to the necessary standards needed for every day duty use for the Sheriff’s Office.
– Alex Moskal- Loss Prevention Supervisor and Organized Retail Crime Captain for Kohl’s Department Store, for his assistance throughout 2023 fighting organized retail crime at the Towne Center shopping plaza. Due to Alex’s vast knowledge, experience, and countless interactions in the field, he has been able to identify countless misdemeanor and felony crime suspects via surveillance video. He has also assisted our Office in identifying suspects involved in other retail store thefts in Genesee County, including a high-dollar theft from a local beauty supply store. Alex provides well-written depositions, supplies complete surveillance video footage and makes himself accessible to law enforcement during off hours.