The New York State Sheriffs' Association held its 89th…

The New York State Sheriffs' Association held its 89th Annual Winter Training Conference this week at the Desmond / Crowne Plaza in Albany. During the conference, numerous training sessions were conducted along with the election of the association’s officers for 2023. Several statewide elected officials, including Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and numerous Senators & Assembly Members, also attended the conference at various times to meet with the Sheriffs of New York. The New York State Sheriff’s Institute also conducted its’ annual awards ceremony at the conference.

Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol was honored to have been unanimously elected by his fellow Sheriffs of the state to serve on the Executive Committee of the NYS Sheriffs' Association. In this position, and as a Past President of the New York State Sheriff’s Association, Sheriff Maciol will work with Sheriffs around the state to further the efforts of the Sheriffs' Association to enhance public safety through professional training and accreditation programs, public safety programs, and advocacy. New York State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Marcelle from Albany administered the Oath of Office to Sheriff Maciol and all of the other officers elected by the association members today.

Each year at the winter conference, awards are also presented by the New York State Sheriff’s Institute for Deputy of the Year, Correction Officer of the Year, Civil Deputy of the Year, Emergency Communicator’s Award, the Carl Draxler Award, the Sheriff Colleen O’Neill Award, the Innovative Program Award, and on occasion - the Grover Cleveland Award.

This year, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office was honored to have members in two of the award categories receive recognition.

Sergeant Curtis Morgan was presented with the Correction Officer of the Year Award. This award recognizes a member of the Corrections Division for an act of extraordinary valor and heroism or for demonstrating exceptional dedication to the Sheriff’s Office over a period of time. Sergeant Morgan has received numerous agency awards throughout his career including the Grand Cordon and Lifesaving Award. He was also recognized for saving an inmate from an attempted suicide. Sergeant Morgan is known most for his commitment to educating the public about all of the services provided by the Sheriff’s Office. He does this through the agency’s various social media platforms, their mobile app, and countless in person programs & presentations. Sergeant Morgan is also known for his commitment and passion when it comes to working with children, senior citizens, and those with special needs.

Sheriff Robert Maciol was presented with the Sheriff Grover Cleveland Award. The Institute's most prestigious award is named for the only sheriff to go on to serve as President of the United States. President Cleveland’s biographer Allen Nevins wrote: “in Grover Cleveland the greatness lies in the typical rather than unusual qualities…he possessed honesty, courage, firmness, independence and common sense. But he possessed them to a degree other men do not.” Only 7 sheriffs have ever received this honor. They are: former Saratoga County Sheriff James Bowen; former Livingston County Sheriff John York; former Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh; Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike, former Genesee County Sheriff Gary Maha; Ontario County Sheriff Philip Povero, and Broome County Sheriff Dave Harder.

The remaining award recipients include:

Deputy of the Year:

Sean O’Brien, Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office

Carl Draxler Award:

Captain Vincent V. Altieri, Ulster County Sheriff’s Office

Colleen O’Neill Award

Deputy Sheriff Rebecca Kane, Livingston County Sheriff’s Office

Civil Officer of the Year

Lieutenant Corey Diez, Niagara County Sheriff’s Office

Emergency Communicator’s Award

Dispatcher William Boyd, Livingston County Sheriff’s Office

Innovative Program Award

Project Blue/Erie County Sheriffs’ Office

The New York State Sheriffs' Association, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation, formed in 1934, for the purpose of assisting Sheriffs in the efficient and effective delivery of services to the public. It comprises all of the elected and appointed Sheriffs of New York State.