Legal community recognizes county's top law enforcers

Top Photo, from left: Miller, Camp, Dibble, Harmon.

Four local cops were honored Thursday night by the Genesee County Bar Association and the Batavia Kiwanis Club for their dedication and good work during the past year.

Recognized in the annual awards ceremony at Bohn's Restaurant were:

• Officer Eric Miller, Village of Le Roy Police Department;
• Patrolman Christopher Camp, the Batavia Police Department;
• Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble, Genesee County Sherriff's Office;
• Sgt. Cory Harmon, New York State Police.

Also honored during the annual Law Day celebration was Daniel A. Rybak, who was named Attorney of the Year.

The mock trial team of Batavia High School received the Charles L. Mancuso Award. The team won the 2010 GLOW region Mock Trial Tournament.

William J. Hochul Jr., United States Attorney for the Western District of New York, served as the keynote speaker. 

The WNY native was promoted to his current post about a month ago. Previously, he served as a counter-terrorism attorney for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Hochul spoke about the role that all members of the legal community -- law enforcement, prosecutors and defense attorneys -- play in helping the United States fight terrorism, especially within our borders.

"Each of us in this room – men, women, children, high school students -- have a critical role to ensure that the American legal system remains as a tool to us to fight terrorism," Hochul said.

Hochul said local law enforcement plays is the first-line of defense against domestic terrorism.

"The federal government can’t be everywhere domestic terrorists might be living," Hochul said. "Nationwide, worldwide, really, there’s only 10,000 or so FBI agents."

Without local law enforcement, he said, "we wouldn’t be able to even see the domestic terrorism threat, much less address it.”

Because maintaining the rule of law is vital to keeping our justice system working, Hochul said, defense attorneys who challenge prosecutions' theories and assertions help keep the necessary balance to the system.

"My message to you all is let’s follow the rule of law," Hochul said. "Let’s use the system we have, and where appropriate, my office, the Western New York Office of United States Attorney, stands ready to help."

Inset, Hochul. Above, members of the Batavia High mock trial team.

After the jump are pictures and information on each of the award winners:

Photo: Chief Randy Baker and Officer Camp.

Patrolman Christopher Camp, City of Batavia Police Department
Patrolman Christopher Camp has been a member of the City of Batavia Police Department for four years. He is a 2002 graduate of Attica High School and attended Genesee Community College.

Officer Camp is assigned to road patrol and is a member of the Emergency Response Team. He is a certified scuba diver and has received training in CPR and First Aid. Officer Camp also serves as a Field Training Officer and has volunteered to serve as an honor guard member. During this past year, Officer Camp has demonstrated his professionalism, dedication and service to the community with regard to several incidents he has handled.

During May 2009, Officer Camp, along with other officers, was successful in taking into custody, without injury, an individual who was displaying mental issues who drove a large piece of agricultural equipment into the City of Batavia and damaged several vehicles.

During August 2009, Officer Camp and another officer were able to take into custody a woman who had threatened suicide and cut her wrists with a large knife, and during November 2009, Officer Camp was confronted and attacked by a distraught individual who was subsequently taken into custody without serious injury.

During February 2010, Officer Camp responded to the scene of a house fire and at great risk to his own personal safety attempted to enter the house to save a citizen.

Officer Camp has assisted with coaching the Batavia Youth Soccer team and resides with his family in Attica, New York. He was nominated for this award by his commanding officer, Chief Randy Baker.

Photo: Sheriff Gary Maha with Dibble

Chief Deputy Gordon L. Dibble, Genesee County Sheriff’s Office
Chief Deputy Gordon L. Dibble is a 35-year veteran of the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office. Chief Dibble oversees the operations of the Road Patrol Division of the Sheriff’s Office and is a member of the Sheriff’s Administration staff.

Chief Dibble is a lifelong resident of Genesee County and a graduate of Pembroke High School. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Corrections from Aurora College in Illinois in 1974.

He joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1975 and was assigned to Corrections. In 1977, he was transferred to the Criminal Division and worked as a road patrol officer until 1980, when he was appointed a Youth Officer. He became the agency’s first certified D.A.R.E instructor and gained the trust and respect of school administrators, students and educators.

As Youth Officer, Chief Dibble instituted several youth-safety programs including the use of a small robot car named “Shadow," which was purchased by the Kiwanis Club of Batavia in 1989. Chief Dibble spends an enormous amount of time helping employees and citizens of Genesee County in his day-to-day duties as supervisor of the Road Patrol Division.

He is a professional, dedicated officer who is committed to the law enforcement profession and is willing to assist whenever and wherever needed. Chief Dibble oversees traffic details during the concert season at Darien Lake and has worked tirelessly with Darien Lake officials and other stakeholders to improve traffic safety in that area.

Chief Dibble is the recipient of two Commendations, three Meritorious Service Awards and was named Officer of the Year in 1984. He has been recognized by the local chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Drivers for his efforts in combating DWI and in 2009, was awarded the New York State Sheriffs’ Association’s Carl Draxler Award for Meritorious Service. Chief Dibble and his wife, Peggy, reside in the Town of Pembroke and have three boys: Eric - age 29, Russell - age 24 and Jeffrey - age 19. Chief Dibble was nominated for this award by his commanding officer, Sheriff Gary T. Maha.

Photo: Le Roy Chief Chris Hayward with Miller.

Police Officer Eric H. Miller, Village of LeRoy Police Department Police
Officer Eric H. Miller is a 14-year veteran with the Village of LeRoy Police Department. For the past seven years, Officer Miller has been serving as a School Resource Officer for the LeRoy School District.

Officer Miller has built relationships and trusts to make the school district a safe and comfortable atmosphere for the children of the district and has always been at ease with school-age children and the respect they have for him is evident in his day-to-day contact with them.

High School Principal Joseph Englebert wrote: “Eric works very closely with the youth in our community as a School Resource Officer. He works throughout the school district with administration to keep our students and staff safe. He develops relationships with students that assist the administration in being proactive when dealing with discipline issues, instead of being reactive.

He goes into the classroom to educate students on safety and legal issues and he is present at school events, adding an extra layer of security, so that community members can feel safe and enjoy themselves. He is a liaison to other law enforcement organizations and the LeRoy safety networks. His presence throughout the district makes a difference on a daily basis.”

Officer Miller was nominated for this award by his commanding officer, Chief Christopher Hayward.

Photo: Major Christopher Cummings with Harmon.

Sergeant Corey S. Harmon, New York State Police
Sergeant Corey S. Harmon has been a member of the New York State Police for 11 years.

Sergeant Harmon is a Station Commander and supervises the State Police Batavia road patrols and is responsible for coordinating DWI, Aggressive Driving and Traffic Corridor details.

During this past year, Sergeant Harmon has distinguished himself in many ways. In June 2009, Sergeant Harmon was instrumental in the capture of three armed bank robbers stemming from the robbery of the M&T Bank in Elba, NY. His quick response allowed him to identify the suspect vehicle as it fled the scene, and his assistance in coordinating the large scale search detail resulted in the successful apprehension of the three suspects involved. His actions earned him a State Police Superintendent’s Letter of Commendation.

Additionally, Sergeant Harmon is credited with having supervised and motivated a number of State Police members, instilling in them the goals of promoting justice and goodwill to those they serve. His leadership led to a marked increase across all enforcement categories.

Sergeant Harmon’s exceptional ability to plan and schedule was also highlighted during this last year with regard to the Darien Lake Concert season. Traffic-related initiatives include DWI checkpoints and multi-agency Under Age Drinking details.

Sergeant Harmon oversaw the 2009 Genesee County Traffic Corridor, which targeted erratic operation occurring along State Route 63 in a quest to reduce motor vehicle accidents. In doing so, he managed both the resources and overtime associated with the 48 traffic details that were responsible for issuing 499 traffic tickets over a six-month period, creating a safer environment.

Sergeant Harmon was the 2009 Troop “A” Zone One recipient of the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Special Recognition Award. Sergeant Harmon resides in the Town of Wilson, Niagara County, with his wife, Allison, and their 1-year-old son, Max.

Sergeant Harmon was nominated for this award by his commanding officers, Major Christopher Cummings and Captain Craig Hanesworth.

CHARLES L. MANCUSO AWARD
During the dinner, the Genesee County Bar Association presented the fourth annual “Charles L. Mancuso Award” to Batavia High School, the 2010 winner of the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming) District Competition in the New York State Mock Trial Tournament. The award reads, “Dedicated to the Memory of an Outstanding Attorney-Citizen."  Mr. Mancuso, a Batavia lawyer, served as Coordinator of the local competition until his untimely death four years ago. The BHS team members honored at the dinner included: Patrick Flynn, Tim Redband, Adi Marino, Kaitlyn Logsdon, McKenzie Stevens, Jenna Bauer, Maura Chmielowiec, Sahil Jain, C.J. Shultz, Will Ely, Kristen Klein, Chad Luce, and Evan Sutherland. The team, coached by Social Studies Teacher Tim Stevens, has competed in, and won, the local tournament for each of the past eight years.

2010 ATTORNEY OF THE YEAR AWARD
The Genesee County Bar Association presented their “2010 Attorney of the Year Award” to Daniel A. Rybak, a Batavia attorney.

Mr. Rybak graduated from Notre Dame as an undergraduate in 1967 and Notre Dame Law School in 1970. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in February 1971. Mr. Rybak was hired as an associate with Stakel, Suttell and Found, and a few years later he became a partner – Stakel, Suttell, Found and Rybak.

The practice is now Rybak, Metzler and Grasso. Mr. Rybak has been very involved in the community including serving as past president of the board for the Batavia Area YMCA; past board member of the St. Jerome Hospital Foundation; Notre Dame high school board of trustees; member of the Peace and Justice Commission of the Diocese of Buffalo; member of the Genesee County Bar Association Grievance Committee; member of the Grievance Committee, 4th Department, 8th Judicial District; and member for several years of the House of Delegates of the New York State Bar Association, representing attorneys from all of New York State.

Mr. Rybak is a native of Perry and now resides with his wife, Lorraine, in the City of Batavia.

Additional pictures from the evening below:

Last photo: Camp with Lt. Henning.