NORWICH – The director of the New York State Sheriff’s Association was on hand Monday at the Chenango County Board of Supervisors’ monthly gathering to reward the county’s public safety sector with a certificate of accreditation.

The recognition is given to public safety agencies that meet and exceed the state’s standards of excellence and is an affirmation of the respect that the local agency enjoys across the state.

“Why do we bother with accreditation?” Peter R. Kehoe asked in his address to the board. “It is to approve the services offered by the Sheriff’s Office on behalf of the general public.” The Sheriff’s Association executive director said the award was “an outstanding achievement” for the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office and “not just an exercise in ego, but an exercise in good government.”