NORWICH – The 24th Annual Chenango County Sheriff’s Office Awards Program was held Friday, March 4, 2016. 
“This night is to honor those who performed in an exemplary manner,” said Chenango County Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. in his opening address. “All of our staff is outstanding, but there are some who stood out.”
Employees in the four main units were eligible to receive awards: Law Enforcement Division, Corrections Division, Civil Division, and Communications Division. 
Cutting expressed his gratitude to Undersheriff Dan Frair, who aids in the administration of the office. 
Lt. Chris Miles handles public safely within the jail and buildings and grounds, Lt. Richard Cobb takes care of all facets of the law enforcement aspect, A. Jones is in charge of the 911 Dispatch Center. The Chief Civil Clerk is A. Craig Allison. 
“Each division plays an important role in the success of the Sheriff’s Office,” said Cutting. “None of these positions are easy.”
“We faced a lot of issues in 2015, one of which was staffing within the jail. The staff is working long hours to get the job done. Working in the jail is a hard job, it’s psychological warfare,” said Cutting. “The new staff can be manipulated, and we help to get them out of it.”
Cutting said the next Civil Service exam is in April, but due to all the necessary requirements, new hires most likely won’t be starting until October or November. 
Cutting said within the jail, there was 18 percent turnover of employees. 
“We are planning positive ways to re-trains staff,” said Cutting. “We also received funding to continue our very successful Sheriff’s Camp. It is one of the most important youth initiatives in Chenango County.”
With regard to the work of the detectives, Cutting said that heroin and meth are the biggest issues facing the county. 
“It’s [meth] being manufactured in cars, sheds, private residences,” said Cutting. “There were six portable meth labs found in the last two weeks. Meth has the potential to be explosive.”
Cutting continued, “Heroin needles continue to be located and picked up along our roadways and parks. We are not going to arrest our way out of this epidemic. We are working with the District Attorney’s Office and Chenango County Mental Health to see if after detox we can get them into treatment.”
“We’d like to see school health staff trained,” said Cutting. “Sometimes kids will show up in schools with a terrible problem.”
Cutting explained that two deputies are School Resource Officers in Chenango County schools. 
With regard to the 911 Dispatch Center, the Sheriff said it’s been upgraded significantly, and the office will soon be looking toward a ‘text to 911’ feature. 
Cutting made mention of the body cameras that will be used by both patrol and corrections. He said the cameras will bring transparency, avoid potentially frivolous lawsuits, and malicious allegations made against employees. 
Active shooter training was discussed, and Cutting said shields are how in every police agency in the county. 
“You never know when something like that will happen,” said Cutting, who added that it is best to be prepared and trained. 
“We’re expanding our training program,” Cutting said. “We want the best trained officers on the streets.”
“There have been many active shooter incidents on a national level,” Cutting explained. “Our deputies attended Homeland Security training in Oriskany. We’re used the drug dealer’s money, and we’re doing the most realistic training we can do.”
In the Corrections Division, Cutting said new challenges include addiction among inmates, diabetes, and Hepatitis C. 
Awards were then given from each division including categories of perfect attendance, years of service, firearms precision, Sheriff’s Commendations, and employee of the year from each division. 
Winners from some of the categories are as follows:
Sheriff Joseph Benenati Award:
• Sgt Clifford Williams

Sgt Michael R Friot Award:
• CO Edward White

Officers Of the Year:
• Deputy: Jeffrey Barton
• CO: Christopher Golliver
• Disp: Brian Cushman
• Civilian: Donna Commesso

Most Improved:
• Deputy: Justin Davy
• CO: Braeden Williams
• Disp: Thomas Akshar

Perseverance Award:
• Amelia Lord
• Natasha Dreusike

Official Commendations:
• Detectives Kevin Powell and Gary Miller for their work on the William Danielson investigation.
• Deputy Jeffrey Barton for saving the life of a man by extricating him from a burning vehicle after a serious accident.
• Deputy Chad O'Hara for saving a person's life by recognizing the person was overdosing on opiates and administering Naloxone.
• Corrections Officer Keegan Kerr for responding to his gut instinct and finding an inmate attempting suicide. He was able to get the inmate to the floor and assess for injuries as backup was beginning to arrive, the inmate survived.

“We will continue to face and meet the challenges before us, and we will continue to protect and serve the people of Chenango County,” Cutting said.