Chenango County Sheriff’s Office mourns the loss of retired Lt. Richard Cobb
The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office flew their flags at half-staff in honor of retired Lt. Richard Cobb, who died on July 30 and served the office for 20 years. From left to right, those depicted in the photo are Detective Anthony Lawrence, Sgt. Clarence Ellingsen, Detective Sgt. Chad O’Hara, Lt. Jeffrey Barton, Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr., Undersheriff Dustin Smietana, Lt. Tracy Rotundo, Sgt. Nathan Warner, Chief Dispatcher George Finch and Chief Civil Clerk Craig Allison. (Photo by Lilli Iannella; portraits submitted by the Chenango County Sheriff's Office)
CHENANGO COUNTY– Richard Michael Cobb, who had retired from the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in 2018 after 20 years of service, died unexpectedly on July 30 at Chenango Memorial Hospital. He was 53.
To many working at the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, they remember Cobb as not only a colleague but also a mentor, counselor and friend.
Undersheriff Dustin Smietana said Cobb taught deputies about self-discipline and to be the best versions of themselves.
Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. described Cobb as an “honorable and distinguished officer” and “tremendous husband and parent.”
Cobb started working at the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in 1998 as a deputy sheriff, Smietana said. In 2003, Cobb was promoted to sergeant, and in 2007, he served as detective sergeant. Two years later, in 2009, he rose to lieutenant, and he spent the rest of his nine years at the office in that position until retiring in May 2018.
A month before his retirement, the sheriff’s office awarded Cobb for “outstanding dedication to the field of law enforcement and corrections.”
During his time at the sheriff’s office, Cobb worked on many big homicide cases, Smietana said.
“He put the same effort into every case he worked and was tireless at it,” Smietana said.
Cases included Peter M. Wlasiuk, who was found guilty of murdering his wife in 2002 and staging an accident at Guilford Lake to cover it up. Cobb investigated the murder and found that the evidence did not match the suspect’s testimony.
In this case, he also worked as an accident reconstructionist, a position Smietana said he held for 18 years, starting in 2000.
Other cases Cobb helped solve, Smietana said, involved Jeremy Coates, George Ford Jr. and Ernest Franklin, who were all eventually convicted of murder.
Cobb had appeared in an episode of Dateline, a NBC show that highlights crime investigations, and he also was featured on other media like Forensic Files and Discovery ID, according to his obituary.
But solving cases wasn’t Cobb’s priority. Sgt. Clarence Ellingsen said Cobb put family first and treated his colleagues like family too.
“He was a cop’s cop. He always took care of us,” Ellingsen said.
Ellingsen listed compassion as Cobb’s top trait. Chief Dispatcher George Finch also emphasized how Cobb would attend every event the sheriff’s office hosted and always looked after the community members and image of the agency.
“He took care of people. He always made sure we had everything we needed,” Finch said. “He should be here right now.”
Ellingsen recalled reporting to a late-night fatal accident with Cobb and said that no matter what time of day, Cobb would come out to support the other deputies.
He held deputies accountable, Ellingsen said, and to be on time and ready to work.
Deputies recounted quotes from Cobb, which included “If you’re not early, you’re late.”
While Cobb was committed to showing up for the community and agency, he also wanted his colleagues to take care of themselves.
Ellingsen referenced an instance where he was running late for lunch when Cobb had told him, “Don’t worry, buddy, always take care of you.”
When it came to serving the community, other than his day-to-day responsibilities in the sheriff’s office, deputies said he helped start "Shop with a Sheriff" in 2015, which takes place in December and allows participating county children to use donated money to shop for themselves alongside a deputy.
Cobb grew up in Chenango County himself, in Oxford, and was a former member of the Oxford Fire Department, according to his obituary. He enjoyed cooking, gardening, scuba diving and spending time with family on camping and fishing trips.
To Ellingsen, Cobb was like family, and his dedication to serving the community didn’t stop after his retirement.
“He may have retired, but he was never off duty,” Ellingsen said. “I lost a brother.”
Following his retirement from the sheriff’s office, Cobb worked as an auto examiner supervisor at New York Central Mutual Insurance.
To this day, the sheriff’s office honors Cobb’s efforts. Cutting said his character and work helped shape the office into what it is now.
“We credit him with a lot of the success we have here today,” Cutting said. “He’ll surely be missed.”
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Oxford Fire Department at 20 Main St. in Oxford on Saturday, August 5, starting at noon.
To many working at the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, they remember Cobb as not only a colleague but also a mentor, counselor and friend.
Undersheriff Dustin Smietana said Cobb taught deputies about self-discipline and to be the best versions of themselves.
Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. described Cobb as an “honorable and distinguished officer” and “tremendous husband and parent.”
Cobb started working at the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in 1998 as a deputy sheriff, Smietana said. In 2003, Cobb was promoted to sergeant, and in 2007, he served as detective sergeant. Two years later, in 2009, he rose to lieutenant, and he spent the rest of his nine years at the office in that position until retiring in May 2018.
A month before his retirement, the sheriff’s office awarded Cobb for “outstanding dedication to the field of law enforcement and corrections.”
During his time at the sheriff’s office, Cobb worked on many big homicide cases, Smietana said.
“He put the same effort into every case he worked and was tireless at it,” Smietana said.
Cases included Peter M. Wlasiuk, who was found guilty of murdering his wife in 2002 and staging an accident at Guilford Lake to cover it up. Cobb investigated the murder and found that the evidence did not match the suspect’s testimony.
In this case, he also worked as an accident reconstructionist, a position Smietana said he held for 18 years, starting in 2000.
Other cases Cobb helped solve, Smietana said, involved Jeremy Coates, George Ford Jr. and Ernest Franklin, who were all eventually convicted of murder.
Cobb had appeared in an episode of Dateline, a NBC show that highlights crime investigations, and he also was featured on other media like Forensic Files and Discovery ID, according to his obituary.
But solving cases wasn’t Cobb’s priority. Sgt. Clarence Ellingsen said Cobb put family first and treated his colleagues like family too.
“He was a cop’s cop. He always took care of us,” Ellingsen said.
Ellingsen listed compassion as Cobb’s top trait. Chief Dispatcher George Finch also emphasized how Cobb would attend every event the sheriff’s office hosted and always looked after the community members and image of the agency.
“He took care of people. He always made sure we had everything we needed,” Finch said. “He should be here right now.”
Ellingsen recalled reporting to a late-night fatal accident with Cobb and said that no matter what time of day, Cobb would come out to support the other deputies.
He held deputies accountable, Ellingsen said, and to be on time and ready to work.
Deputies recounted quotes from Cobb, which included “If you’re not early, you’re late.”
While Cobb was committed to showing up for the community and agency, he also wanted his colleagues to take care of themselves.
Ellingsen referenced an instance where he was running late for lunch when Cobb had told him, “Don’t worry, buddy, always take care of you.”
When it came to serving the community, other than his day-to-day responsibilities in the sheriff’s office, deputies said he helped start "Shop with a Sheriff" in 2015, which takes place in December and allows participating county children to use donated money to shop for themselves alongside a deputy.
Cobb grew up in Chenango County himself, in Oxford, and was a former member of the Oxford Fire Department, according to his obituary. He enjoyed cooking, gardening, scuba diving and spending time with family on camping and fishing trips.
To Ellingsen, Cobb was like family, and his dedication to serving the community didn’t stop after his retirement.
“He may have retired, but he was never off duty,” Ellingsen said. “I lost a brother.”
Following his retirement from the sheriff’s office, Cobb worked as an auto examiner supervisor at New York Central Mutual Insurance.
To this day, the sheriff’s office honors Cobb’s efforts. Cutting said his character and work helped shape the office into what it is now.
“We credit him with a lot of the success we have here today,” Cutting said. “He’ll surely be missed.”
A Celebration of Life will be held at the Oxford Fire Department at 20 Main St. in Oxford on Saturday, August 5, starting at noon.
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