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‘Full Circle’

Gerace Highlights Career In Law Enforcement

The Gerace family includes, from left, former Chautauqua County Executive Joseph Gerace; Rebecca Gerace; Mary Gerace; former sheriff Joe Gerace; Mary Gerace; and Andrea Gerace. The former sheriff spoke about his career in law enforcement coming “full circle” with his most recent position at Chautauqua Institution. P-J photo by Eric Zavinski

CHAUTAUQUA — The audience at the Turner Community Center was eager to hear all about him.

Joe Gerace, the former Chautauqua County sheriff of 24 years and the current director of campus security and safety for Chautauqua Institution, has been through a lot in his decades spent as a man of the law.

Host Greg Peterson took a small break from his series covering Chautauqua Lake to have a chat with Gerace about the various high-profile cases of his career, including technological advancements for the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office and a new beginning at Chautauqua Institution.

“I’ve got a list a mile long of your accomplishments,” Peterson joked.

Gerace kept the conversation light and optimistic as well throughout the hourlong interview regarding some serious subject matter, including the toughest and most rewarding parts of Gerace’s career as sheriff. After losing re-election to current Sheriff Jim Quattrone, a former deputy of Gerace’s, the former sheriff was officially named the highest security professional at Chautauqua Institution in January.

“One Of … The Safest Places”

Campus Security at

Chautauqua Institution

As the director of campus security and safety, Gerace will be in charge of enacting recommendations for a Security Master Plan recently established by Chautauqua Institution. Later in 2019, Gerace is planned to lead the local police force following the upcoming retirement of chief Alan Akin.

“I think that it’s an interesting time in the world,” Gerace said. “And Chautauqua is one of, if probably not, the safest place(s) that you can go to in the world.”

Gerace commented that his career trajectory became “full-circle” since his first job in law enforcement was as a police officer for the community decades ago. Originally, he held an aspiration for art, especially photography, before he learned he had a passion for service to his community.

“Through Joe’s leadership, our security personnel will continue to provide the delicate balance of enforcement, preventive security tactics and exceptional community relations acumen cultivated for decades under Al’s command,” said John Shedd, vice president of campus planning and operations for Chautauqua Institution.

Gerace said a large part of what security staff will continue to do is to help manage crowds and assist residents and guests find their way around campus. Chautauqua Institution has a year-round police force, with extra security staff hired for the summer season.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve such a prestigious organization,” Gerace said. “I have always loved Chautauqua Institution since beginning my law enforcement career here. I look forward to working with the wonderful employees, residents and guests on this historic campus.”

A supportive family has offered Gerace himself a lot of security and time for reflection on what Peterson called the “Gerace legacy.”

“I consider myself one of the luckiest men in the world,” Gerace said. “I come from a … family (in which) my mom and dad still gaze into one another’s eyes and tell each other they love each other. My sister, brother are just phenomenal people that I love more than I can explain.

“My dad and mom: they were my heroes. My father (County Executive Joseph Gerace) gave a lot of his life to public service, and I was proud to be able to do the same. I now am married to my wife, and we have seven children. Wow, it’s just a whole other level. … I’m very blessed.”

“Jump In”

Gerace’s Path To Sheriff

“I remember getting my first uniform and going, ‘Wow, look at me,'” Gerace said, smiling.

After that initial rush and spending time in his uniform while enforcing the law at Chautauqua Institution, Gerace became a deputy at the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office. Propelled by an internship he had taken at the sheriff’s office, he knew his calling was public service, but in his 20s, he had no idea how far that would take him.

“I really hadn’t thought about (politics),” Gerace said. “I saw the trials and tribulations that (my father) went through.”

His aspirations evolved throughout time, however. After serving under Sheriff John Bentley 10 years into his time as a deputy, he said he knew he wanted to lead the office. With the death of Bentley during his term, a 22-year-long career had been cut short, and someone needed to step up.

“Losing him was a huge loss,” Gerace said. “You either jump in or watch somebody else do it.”

Gerace had decided to jump, springing into what would transform into nearly a quarter of a century as sheriff. When he began his first term in January 1995, 37-year-old Gerace was the youngest sheriff in the state at the time, and he would soon have a lot on his plate.

Read tomorrow’s edition of the Post-Journal for the second installment of Gerace’s story, including coverage of the most high-profile cases he has worked on.

Follow Eric Zavinski at twitter.com/EZavinski.

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