Correction Officer Philip A. Mangefrida with Sheriff Graff today during his retirement party at the Genesee County Jail
Correction Officer Philip A. Mangefrida is retiring today after 25 years of service to the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Genesee County.
Throughout CO Mangefrida’s career, he has demonstrated professionalism, integrity, loyalty, and commitment to excellence in the performance of his duties. CO Mangefrida’s hard work and dedication have made a lasting impact on his fellow officers, the department, and the community he faithfully served. In addition, his actions and commitment to duty earned him a Commendation in 2007, reflecting the high standards and exemplary character he carried throughout his career.
“Everyone at the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office extends our sincere appreciation for CO Mangefrida’s years of service and wish him continued happiness, health, and success in the years ahead,” stated Sheriff Graff. (above from a provided press release)
“It’s one of the things where this can be a thankless job, because when you’re in corrections, you’re kind of the forgotten first responder. It’s kind of its own city inside. We have to police inside the facility. A lot of people say you’re just this; you’re just a CO. It’s not the case. You have to be a counselor, you have to be a mental health practitioner, you have to listen to these guys, you’re not just going sit down, shut up, right, those days are over with, you have to listen, you have to respond, you have to be careful.”
Mangefrida walked his final walk through inside of the jail today.
“I had inmates come up to me, shake my hand. Phil, we’re gonna miss you, thank you for treating me like a human being. Thank you for not treating us like jerks. And I’m one of the COs. When I first started, it was yelling. That’s not who I am. I very rarely have to raise my voice. All the inmates even knew if I started yelling, everyone’s like, oh, sorry, CO Phil, and I got apologies. In fact, I was respected enough by the inmates that when my daughter passed away, I had 39 inmates sign a card, and even when one inmate got out, he donated money in her memory. It’s hard not to become close to the inmates. I see the inmates on the outside. Oh, Phil, hey, I don’t remember, you see so many, and it’s the ones that don’t give you a problem that you’re always decent to, or the ones that make you laugh. You kind of remember them, but you see the faces, you don’t remember things, because I’ve seen thousands of people come through here, some for one day. I had one guy say, “Phil, you changed my life by talking to me. You told me to get clean, and I’ve never been in trouble since.”
Hopefully, a little bit of Mangefrida has rubbed off on new CO’s at the Genesee County Jail. Several new CO’s are the same age as Mangefrida’s daughter, who is 22 and going to school to be a court stenographer.
“I’m hoping that, and I’ve tried telling them never stop asking questions, never stop being compassionate, and yes, they will lie to you, people lie, like the TV show House Patients Lie, it’s one of the things, I’ve had tragedies, as I’ve mentioned. My daughter passed away. This department has given me so much over that. I have FMLA because of my son, and I use time. I never get any arguments with it. Phil whatever you need. And this department has been very, very good to me. And, so, like I said, when it comes to training, I’m never going to charge my county for the training, after what they’ve done for me. So, they’ve helped me out. I started with Sheriff Maha taking a chance on me. Sheriff Sheron was always good to me, and Sheriff Graff, I actually have seniority on Sheriff Graff, I’ve been here longer than he has. And he is just one of the nicest guys to work with, and they’re very understanding of the how difficult this job can be.”
CO Mangefrida with Justice Robert Mattice of Stafford, who convinced Mangefrida to take the job as a Correctional Officer 25 years ago.
“I came from Rochester, from Rural Metro Ambulance, and the same day I got my acceptance letter that I was hired here was the same day I also got accepted into paramedic school. I had to make a choice, and I talked to a friend of mine, Judge Robert Mattice. Now, he was my coworker at the time, and he said, “It’s like, Phil, I know you love the ambulance, but this is going to be better in the long term, because it’s civil service, it’s a steadier job, you don’t have to really lift patients anymore, so I balance it all out, and he says, Phil, plus it’s 25 year retirement, you’ll be 51 the year you retire, now when you’re 26 years old, you’re not thinking about that.”
Mangefrida says he plans to take care of his son now that he is retired. “So, he’s nonverbal, autistic. He goes to Mary Cariola Center at the Children’s Center. I’m considered an autism specialist now. I actually have a not-for-profit called Autism Resources of Western New York.”
Mangefrida started at Le Roy Ambulance in 1994 as a driver and assistant.
“I got my EMT in 1997. In 1997 to 2001 I worked at Rural Metro Ambulance, full-time commercial ambulance in Rochester. It’s now called AMR, and I still was a volunteer with Le Roy. Slightly before COVID happened, my EMT expired. I didn’t do that anymore, just because having an autistic child is so hard.”
Video of CO Mangefrida’s Walk out and Sign Off after 25 years of service.
“In 2013, I started a training called Autism and Emergencies, and it’s grown from a simple 15-page PowerPoint that it’s now two hours’ worth of accreditation. Charlotte Crawford was a very dear friend of mine. She helped me get it, so my training is actually worth two continuing medical educations for all first responders and medical personnel that need it. And working with Albany right now, there’s a bill to try to make autism training mandatory for all first responders in New York states, starting with police, and hopefully they use my training.”
Mangefrida will now move on to running Autism Resources of WNY, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization he created in 2025, as an Autism and Emergency Specialist providing resources and training for autism support, a passion of his created in remembrance of his almost 4-year-old daughter who was autistic and passed away in 2011.
Link to the website:Autism Resources of Western New York
Mangefrida says Western New York, especially Rochester, is the apex of autism research
“I know people that have moved from out of state to come here to come to Rochester, especially Rochester, Monroe County, because the resources we have vastly outnumber the rest of the country. U of R is the apex of autism research, and actually one of the biggest reasons is Thomas Golisano. I’ve never met him, but Golisano Children’s at Oshi, and the Golisano Children’s here in Rochester, and both great for autism research.”
The first fundraising event is planned for August 22nd in Pavilion. (see flyer below)
“Andrea was my daughter. She passed away in 2011 She was autistic. She eloped out of the house and unfortunately became a statistic and passed away because 91% of deaths and autistic children are children developing.”
Shift Supervisor Peter Hoy, a 28-year employee, presented CO Mangefrida with a Thin Blue Line American Flag today during his retirement party this afternoon at the Genesee County Jail. “He’s a very good officer, really friendly to the public, he does a very good job dealing with the inmates every day. It’s going to be tough to find someone to replace him, all that and knowledge,” says Hoy.