Pictured (l to r): Sharon Hamilton, Sheriff Joe Gerace, and Rotary Club of Jamestown President, Katie Geise.
Chautauqua County Sheriff Joseph A. Gerace who is running for re-election this fall SPOKE TO THE Rotary Club of Jamestown at its weekly meeting at the Robert H. Jackson Center. Gerace has been Sheriff since 1995.
Sheriff Gerace earned an Associate’s in Applied Science at JCC; a Bachelor of Arts in Police Science from Mercyhurst College; and a Master’s Degree in Professional Studies in Community Service Administration from Alfred University.
He has continued his professional education in finger printing, crime scene analysis, police instruction, Doppler traffic radar, breathalyzer/intoximeter operation, crime scene photography and most recently became an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician). He holds many professional memberships as well as volunteer experience with the Children’s Adult Hockey.
He and his wife Gina live in West Ellicott with their seven children and attend Zion Covenant Church.
Sheriff Gerace discussed how proud he is that Chautauqua County is one of only 6 counties in New York State to hold accreditation in all 5 parameters of law enforcement management maintaining our county law enforcement business in the best possible way (and has been for several years).
Gerace spoke of his pride in instituting the EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) program with his deputies to assist the County Volunteer Fire Departments on emergency medical calls. There are currently 20 full time and 9 part time
Sheriff Deputy EMTs helping to improve the response for emergency calls. Some of these deputies have even joined volunteer fire departments, who are in great need of volunteers. Their equipment was purchased using drug forfeiture monies.
Under Sheriff Gerace’s purview, Matt Trusso of the communications division secured a $6 million grant to build a new radio communication system, vastly improving county-wide communications for the Sheriff’s Department.
Gerace encouraged everyone to sign up for the SMART 911 program (go to SMART911.com), which asks you to input information about yourself and all those who live in your residence (no one except emergency personnel can see this information), so the responders are better prepared when they reach your home. The sheriff’s department has responded to over 150,000 calls so far in 2018.
Gerace encouraged everyone to sign up for the SMART 911 program (go to SMART911.com), which asks you to input information about yourself and all those who live in your residence (no one except emergency personnel can see this information), so the responders are better prepared when they reach your home. The sheriff’s department has responded to over 150,000 calls so far in 2018.
Gerace explained the beginnings and workings of the Starflight helicopter program; the CSI (crime Scene investigation) forensic investigation team; the R.U.O.K. program, the ROSH program, the SIGN program; the Yellow Dot Program – all to protect senior citizens; the Warning Ticket Program and several others.