See the list of all award winners
Deacon Frank Pasquale – opening prayer Introduction of special guests and dignitaries
Congressman Langworthy is being represented by special assistant Sharon Murphy Senator Borrello is being represented by John Eberth
Assemblyman Joe Giglio is being represented by Joe Sempolinski
Sheriff Rick Whitney, Legislator Adam Cyr, Legislator Phil Stockin were in attendance
From Sheriff Scott Cicirello:
Thank you all for being here tonight. The Allegany County Sheriff’s Office annual awards ceremony is meant to recognize our staff who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Tonight’s award winners have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and have shown a level of dedication that must be recognized and rewarded.
Before we start presenting the awards, I want to talk to the families of those being honored tonight. Being in Law Enforcement is not easy. In fact, it’s really hard. We often miss holidays, special occasions, baseball games, and dance recitals because of this profession. Long hours, crazy hours, last minute mandates- all of this is hard on a family. All of you- the families of the men and women being awarded tonight deserve to be acknowledged for your sacrifices and for your support. So, I want to give you a heartfelt round of applause because none of this would be possible without you.
As we begin to hand out the awards, I want to direct you to the program. In addition to the plaque and certificate that each member will receive, they will get a pin that will be worn on their uniform. On the right-hand side of the program, you will see what the pins will look like and what awards they represent. These pins are a great source of pride and will be displayed prominently on the uniform. Also, for every award there will be a large plaque placed at the public safety complex where each award winner will be listed every year that award is presented. So, everyone here tonight will be a part of the history of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office for generations going forward.
All the awards being given tonight are based solely on nominations given by Sheriff’s Office Employees with minimal input from administrative staff. The winners of these awards are really being given these awards by their co-workers, which I believe makes them that much more important.
The first award tonight is for Corrections Officer of the Year. This person has been with our office for over 23 years. She is a fixture at our intake desk and communicates daily with all the courts, parole and DOCCS-all of which inform me regularly that she does an outstanding job. She also takes the time to train new members. She also has a “heart of gold” and is the first to step up to help when there is a co-worker in need. Her attention to detail is impeccable, and the example she sets for her fellow employees is representative of the person and the corrections officer that she is. I personally rely heavily on her knowledge and experience. I am very pleased to present this award to Holly Herdman. Holly please come up.
The next award is Deputy of the Year. He has been with our office since 2012. This person does it all for the Sheriff’s Office. He works in the jail, he works the road, he performs the investigations, and makes the arrests for jail crimes. He is an FTO. Whenever there is a need to assist with anything, he is the first to say yes and jump in to assist. He is respected amongst his co-workers and always strives to do the best job possible. I appreciate his dedication. I am happy to present this award to Deputy Dale Thomas. Dale please come up.
The next award is for Emergency Services Dispatcher of the Year. Being an ESD is a difficult job. They are on the frontlines when a major incident happens. They are the ones that make sure people get the emergency help they need-whether it be fire, EMS, or law enforcement. What makes their job even more difficult is that they stay on the line and assist people through critical incidents. Some of those incidents being both horrific and traumatic. On April 11, 2022, the 911 Center received a report of a house fire just over the state line in Genesee, PA. The caller was reporting that there were five children trapped in a house that was fully involved by fire. The caller was also reporting that her own children were trapped in the house. Emergency Services Dispatchers Tony Perkins, Connie Case, and Penny Chamberlain began dispatching the necessary emergency equipment to the scene while maintaining contact with the mother who made the 911 call. As the fire escalated and spread, the details were being given in real-time to our dispatchers. During this time our dispatchers remained calm and professional and did everything in their power to get help to the scene as fast as possible. Unfortunately, five children perished in the fire. ESDs Chamberlain, Case, and Perkins handled the most difficult task we could have put in front of them, and they did it with dignity, professionalism, and humanity. I am honored to present this award to ESD Tony Perkins, Connie Case, and Penny Chamberlain. Please come up.
Our next award is for Supervisor of the Year. This Sergeant has been with our office since 2007. He is a Corrections Sergeant, but he is also a police officer and works for local PDs in his spare time. He is described as a by-the-book Sergeant who truly cares about his job and the Sheriff’s Office. He pushes his subordinates to do more than the expected minimum. He leads by example and holds everyone to the same standard. He is fair and consistent. He is the first to recognize hard work by his employees, and he inspires those around him. He is not only a leader on his platoon, he assists with numerous administrative duties above and beyond supervising A- line. It is very clear that the members of the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office hold you in very high regard. This award goes to Sgt. Craig Cornell. Please come up.
The next award is for excellence in training. This person has consistently dedicated himself to providing a high level of training to every member of the Sheriff’s Office. He teaches our corrections academy and arranges for all the other instructors. He manages and ensures all our training is done per state regulations. He is also responsible for the partnership we now have with Saint Bonaventure University where they hold a corrections academy as a part of their curriculum. He is dependable and I rely on him daily for his knowledge and experience in many areas. With his dedication to training for our office, we have become recognized as a resource throughout western NY to provide training to numerous law enforcement entities throughout the region. He also runs our Peer Support Program which he does in partnership with the Probation Department.
I can’t say enough about this Sergeant. Craig Plaisted please come up for this award.
The next award is for Field Training Officer of the Year. This FTO has gone above and beyond in her role. She has taken on additional recruits without complaint. Her reports and DOR’s are written professionally and in great detail. She takes the time to explain the modules to our standards and encourages all of the trainees to continue their learning and training even when they aren’t at work. She leads by example and is respected by
her peers. The position of FTO is critical to the future success of our organization. Danielle Baldwin you deserve this award. Thank you for all of your hard work. Please come up.
The next award is for Civilian Employee of the Year. This person is our civil secretary but serves us in many other areas. When needed, she jumps in to assist with payroll, pistol permits, relays- she does it all. And she does it without being asked to do so. She is a Team Player and one of the hardest workers I have ever seen. Her dedication to our office is recognized by all of us that work with her. Kelly Cumpston, you deserve this award. Please come up.
The next award is the Lifesaving Award. On September 2, 2022, Sheriff’s personnel were alerted to an EMS call of a man down and unconscious in the front parking lot of the County Office Building. Deputy Guy Middaugh responded with other office personnel. Upon arrival, it became apparent that this person was suffering from an opiate overdose. With the condition of the victim deteriorating, Deputy Middaugh administered several doses of Narcan until the subject regained consciousness. The person made a full recovery. If not for the fast response and the recognition that the subject was suffering from a drug overdose, this victim would likely have lost his life. This award goes to Deputy Guy Middaugh. He is currently on vacation with his family and cannot be here this evening.
The last award is the Sheriff Rick Whitney Exceptional Service Award. Sheriff would you please come up to present this. As all of you know, Sheriff Whitney dedicated 47 years of his life to law enforcement. His dedication to the profession is the standard by which all others will be judged. This award goes to a Deputy that has served Allegany County for over 30 years. She has also served as a police officer at several local police departments. I had the pleasure of working with her back in the 1990s while patrolling the mean streets of the Town of Cuba. She is conscientious and hard working. Her experience and knowledge is a constant resource for me and others on our administrative team. She is highly respected amongst her peers as well as all law enforcement throughout the County. You may see her working security at the County Office Building, working a DWI patrol, or conducting a boat patrol on Rushford or Cuba Lake. Her dedication and professionalism are unmatched. As she approaches the twilight of her law enforcement career- she is close to retirement, I want to take the time to let her know how much she is appreciated, and that I have the utmost respect for her. She has had a tremendous impact on this office. The first ever Sheriff Rick Whitney Exceptional Service Award goes to Deputy Carol Bigelow. Please come up.
Benediction – Frank Pasquale
This concludes our ceremony this evening. All the award winners please stay behind with your families for some additional photos. Everyone else is invited to join us in the cafeteria for some refreshments.
Thank you to everyone who made this night possible.
On April 4, 2023, the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office held an awards ceremony at the Genesee Valley School auditorium. The ceremony is meant to recognize our staff who have gone above and beyond in their roles. Tonight’s award winners have demonstrated a commitment to excellence and have shown a level of dedication that must be recognized and rewarded.
The following are the awards recipients:
Corrections Officer of the Year – Holly Herdman
Deputy of the Year – Dale Thomas
Supervisor of the year – Sgt. Craig Cornell
Emergency Services Dispatcher of the Year – Connie Case, Tony Perkins, Penny Chamberlain
Excellence in Training – Sgt. Craig Plaisted Life Saving Award – Deputy Guy Middaugh
Sheriff Rick Whitney Exceptional Service Award – Deputy Carol Bigelow Civilian Employee of the Year – Kelly Cumpston
Field Training Officer of the Year – Deputy Danielle Baldwin
We congratulate the awards winners and thank them all for their dedicated service to this County
