Chad Minuto walks out of the Sheriff’s Department for the last time on Friday afternoon.
Chad Minuto, Chief Deputy of Criminal Investigation Division, has decided to retire from the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. On Friday, his last day in office, he was working a criminal case with fellow investigators just as he always has done the past 10 years. Minuto says being an investigator has been his favorite part of his law enforcement career.
“So, I think that was probably the high point when I was promoted to investigator. I spent 10 years of my career in investigations, and then, you know, being promoted to chief deputy was also a high point, obviously, but I think I’m only as good as all the guys underneath me, and that our CID wing, our Criminal Investigations Division is filled with a lot of good talent. So, I’m pretty confident that, you know, I’m going to be leaving this place in a good spot,” says Minuto.
Minuto, 48, has spent 26 years in law enforcement in Genesee County. He earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminal justice through GCC and SUNY Fredonia and, shortly thereafter, he was hired as a deputy, serving at the Genesee County Jail for a couple years before becoming a probation officer.
In 2005, he transitioned to deputy on road patrol and in 2015, he was promoted to investigator. In April he was promoted to Chief Deputy.
“I think you do kind of reach a shelf life in this profession, really. I mean, the stuff we see in this profession, it gets to you after a while. I’m kind of ready to move on to something new, you know, not only for me, but for my family I think I took a job in law enforcement knowing that there was a 20 year and out, and I think that I always thought about that, like I’ll do 20 years, and I’ll see if something else comes up and something else came up.”
Minuto has decided to be a School Resource Officer at Byron Bergen Central Schools; he will join Genesee County Sheriff’s Department SRO Josh Brabon in the district on September 2nd. Minuto will be an employee of the district; his technical civil service title is special patrol officer.
“Having two separate buildings we wanted an additional SRO so we could have law enforcement presence in both of our school buildings,” says Byron Bergen Schools Superintendent Patrick McGee.
“He has a proven track record, twenty-five plus years of law enforcement experience, and will be a great resource for our leadership team, other SRO, staff, families and an important mentor and role model for our kids. We explored multiple options including adding a second Genesee County Sheriff. One of the options was looking at retired law enforcement. We found Chad through this process. If we didn’t find the right candidate, we were going to hire a second Genesee County Sheriff Deputy.”
Minuto says during college at SUNY Fredonia he thought of becoming a school psychologist.
“So, I kind of am looking forward to working with kids, you know, something different. Maybe I can be a positive influence on them, and, you know, help get them on track. If they’re not, you know, I have a ton of experience, obviously, in law enforcement. So, my goal would be to keep this school safe.”
From left- Sheriff Joseph Graff, Chief Deputy Chad Minuto, Chief Deputy Brian Frieday and Undersheriff Ryan DeLong
“Certainly, it’s a loss for the Sheriff’s Office to see Chief Minuto retire, he has been a staple at our office. He’s a dependable guy and certainly somebody that we rely on at the Sheriff’s Office, but on the same note, I’m excited for Chief Minuto o start the next opportunity in his career and happy for him in choosing retirement,” says Sheriff Joseph Graff.
“He’s been a great partner throughout my career. We started in probation together. He started at the Jail in 1999, then he came over to probation, then I came over to the Sheriff’s Office, then he came over right after me, so we have had a merging of our careers throughout our whole life here. We worked the same shifts, investigations together.”
Minuto was just recently appointed Chief Deputy of the Criminal Investigation Department after Graff was named Sheriff in January. GENESEE COUNTY/Chad Minuto promoted to chief deputy of criminal investigations – Video News Service
Joseph D. Loftus, who was hired as a Deputy Sheriff in January of 2014, and promoted to Investigator in March of 2018, has been provisionally appointed to Chief Deputy – Criminal Investigation Division effective Saturday, August 30th.
“Joe is a senior member of our investigation team, and we are excited for him to take on this new role of leadership here, certainly looking forward to watching him thrive in that position,” says Sheriff Graff.
Minuto is a lifelong Genesee County resident and says he will miss working with the Genesee County Community as they have always been supportive of law enforcement.
“The community support around here for police, I think is not, you know, like it is maybe nationally. I love the community I work in. I think people support us. I think people want us here. And, you know, the amount of thank yous that we get and in waves when we’re just patrolling, or when we’re out at the concerts for Batavia downs. It’s, you know, it’s great. So that is another thing I will miss, working for the community that I grew up in.”
Minuto is also looking forward to normal hours, not always being on call and more time with his family.
“It wears on you after a while to always have to be tied to your phone worried if it’s going to ring. What’s next? Don’t get me wrong, there’s some excitement to that as well, right? I mean, you’re always kind of like, what’s going to happen next, but after a while, I think that adrenaline kind of rush wears off. So, yeah. Now a little bit more of a kinder schedule. I think I can spend a little bit more time with my family.”
Minuto says he feels it was his time to make a change.
“Thank you to everyone along the way who influenced me in my career, any shape, way or form, from the beginnings till now. Thank you to my family, because without them, I don’t think I would have made it this far.”