Rumor is I missed a great time, because of a scheduling conflict, at the Como Restaurant last Friday.

The Niagara County Sheriff’s Department, for the first time in a couple of years I’m told, was able to honor some outstanding work by some incredibly dedicated deputies, investigators and corrections officers.

Since some of the awards date back to 2005, it will take me a few columns to get to them all, but I want to know about the work these folks are doing, so here goes.

Officer of the Year 2005

The honor goes to Correction Officer Kevin Sherman.

On May 27, 2005, Sherman was working in Pod 3 at the jail while inmate Alvin Ozoria was in the pod conference room with a federal probation officer. Sherman saw Ozoria assaulting the probation officer and immediately came to his assistance.

Sherman was able to stop the assault, gain control of Ozoria and call for help. Ultimately, it took four additional officers to completely control Ozoria.

As Sheriff Jim Voutour pointed out, “Without Sherman’s quick, decisive actions, the probation officer would surely have suffered greater physical injury and the (jail) may have been subject to a loss of control in Pod 3.”

A selfless and courageous action by a clearly committed corrections officer.

Russell Isler Award 2007

This honor goes to Registered Nurse Jeremy Johnson.

The honor is given to any Sheriff’s Department member or support staff who contributes an act of valuable service, demonstrating special faithfulness or perseverance or acts of service over an extended period of time.

Johnson was recognized for, over an extended period of time, demonstrating a professional attitude and serving as a valuable member of the jail's medical staff. He was particularly praised for providing leadership in medical emergencies that have occurred in the jail.

Russell Isler Award 2008

For 2008, the Isler Award was presented to Correction Officer Stanley Surman.

The Isler Awards are also bestowed on sheriff’s department members who contribute a method or service that improves efficiency in administrative or tactical procedures there.

Stanley received the 2008 honor because he had, over that year, taken on the task of converting, updating and managing correction division forms and posting them as useable on the department intranet.

In Voutour’s words, “This has increased efficiency and saved tax dollars, as these forms no longer need to be printed in bulk. Officer Surman has gone above and beyond the scope of normal correction officer duties and used his experience in computers to provide a valuable service.

More on the awards in two weeks.

Location, location, location

As in real estate, location can sometimes play a crucial role in commission of a crime and the capture of a criminal.

Such was the case of young Jacob Root as he traveled from Tonawanda to the Falls for a night of fun last Saturday. After apparently imbibing, underage, at a Main Street nightclub, 19-year-old Jacob found himself in need of relief. Perhaps unable to locate a rest room, Root decided to let it all hang out and urinate on the side of a building at Main Street and South Avenue.

If you’ve been in that neighborhood lately, you might notice that it’s about 50 yards from the new police headquarters.

Sadly for Jacob, a Roving Anti-Crime Unit officer, leaving headquarters, spotted him “in the act” and arrested him.

When the officer mentioned Root’s “close proximity” to police headquarters, the best he could come up with was, “I know. That was pretty stupid of me, huh.”

The answer to that question is, YES!

Contact reporter Rick Pfeiffer

at 282-2311, ext. 2252.