From left: Lt. William Genthner; Warden Matthew Stuczynski; Peter Kehoe, Executive Director of New York State Sheriff’s Association; and Sheriff Jim Quattrone. P-J photo by Gregory Bacon

MAYVILLE – Sheriff Jim Quattrone and some members of his staff were honored recently by the state for how the jail is operated.

Peter Kehoe, the executive director of the New York State Sheriff’s Association, attended the recent Chautauqua County Legislature meeting, where he announced that the county jail was being reaccredited. “Less than half of the state’s jails have been able to achieve accreditation,” he said.

Kehoe said the Sheriff’s Office has received accreditation for the Public Safety Answering Point, the Civil Office, Court Security Operations, and the Law Enforcement Division. “In short, that is every accreditation that is available to it has been earned by your Sheriff’s Office. Also, your jail Health Services has also received national accreditation from the Commission on Correctional Health Care,” he said.

Kehoe said Chautauqua County has an “outstanding Sheriff and Sheriff’s Office,” which has long been recognized by the state.

Quattrone has been serving as president of the state Sheriff’s Association. “He’s done a terrific job in a year that has had many challenges,” Kehoe said.

In addition to honoring the Sheriff’s Office for the jail reaccreditation, Kehoe honored Lieutenant William Genther and County Jail Warden Matt Stuczynski for the work they put into the accreditation process. Absent from the meeting, but who also received the same awards, were Lt. Dale Cornell from the jail and Cathy Burgess, RN from the Public Health Department.

Quattrone said their goal in the jail is to go beyond the minimum standards. “We want to provide humane treatment, recognizing the dignity and respect that every individual deserves. Sometimes it’s not always earned, but they (jail inmates) deserve that,” he said.

Quattrone praised those who work in the county jail. “The work our corrections officers do isn’t always seen. It’s difficult and not always well appreciated by those they’re serving, but they are doing their best,” he said.