Ontario County Sheriff’s Office Members Honored for Life-Saving Actions in 2024
Fourteen members of the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office were recognized on March 25 for their actions in life-threatening situations throughout 2024. The awards were presented during the 61st annual Ontario County Safety Council Awards Banquet, held at Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor.
The honorees represented all three bureaus of the sheriff’s office—corrections, road patrol, and communications. Several public safety agencies and community members were also acknowledged during the event for their roles in responding to emergencies.
Correction Officer Nicholas Natale received a Life-Saving Award for intervening in a suicide attempt involving an inmate. Deputy Robert Duliba was named Ontario County STOP DWI Officer of the Year for making 22 arrests related to impaired or intoxicated driving over the past year.
The Dr. Ben Lankheet Heart Starter Award was given to Deputies David Fischer and Brandon Jacobs for their use of CPR and automated external defibrillators (AED) in emergency situations. One of the incidents involved a seizure that led to cardiac arrest, where the timely response is credited with saving a life.
Ten individuals received Letters of Commendation for their service and actions under pressure. These included Senior Communications Officer Nathan Martin, Communications Officers Christopher Foster, Christopher Burt, Sandra Rogers, Hannah DelGatto, and Melissa Lathey, as well as Deputies Brian Larkin, Patrick Fitzgerald, David Fischer, and Alanna Polisseni.
According to the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office, the awards reflect the quick thinking and dedication of personnel who often operate in high-risk or high-stakes situations. Sheriff David Cirencione commended the recipients for their courage and commitment to public safety.