

The Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office presented its 2026 awards during a ceremony in Jamestown earlier this month. Among the honorees were Officer Tom Gilmore, who received the department's Corrections Officer of the Year Award; and deputies Jacob Dietzel and Joshua Summers, who were named the Captain Bentley Deputy Sheriffs of the Year and also presented the Medal of Honor. Dietzel also received a Purple Heart.
The rest of the awards and their respective recipients included:
- Dispatcher of the Year: Mike Katta
- Administrative Excellence Award: Reva Cusimano
- Special Unit Citation: Chautauqua County Jail CERT Team, Sheriff's Office Drug Task Force
- Excellence Award: Captain Jacob Stahley, Lieutenant Alex Nutt, Sergeant Luke Johnson, Chaplain Cameron Lienhart, Investigator Jessica Nourse, Deputy Donald Fox
- Meritorious Service Award: Officer Sashene Bargar, Deputy Mark McKillip, Deputy Paul Abbott, Deputy Richard Griffith
- Distinguished Conduct Award: Deputy Aaron Town
- Veterans Award: Deputy Kristopher Gustafson


Photos by the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office