Eight-year-old Matthew Cech, from Plattsburgh, NY, was sworn in by Sheriff Richard Cutting April 13 with a specific case in mind: help the department find the Lollipop Bandits. For Sheriff Cutting, "It was probably the highlight of my 35 years in service." For Matthew, it was another positive day that comes between days of visits to the hospital and therapy as Cech fights against Mitochondrial Disease. Known throughout the North Country as Mighty Matthew, you can find our more about Deputy Cech at the website mightymatthew.blogspot.com. 

Thirty-four law enforcement executives attended the 142nd session of the Missing Children Seminar for Chief Executives of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children from April 30 to May 1 in Rochester, NY. Among the attendees at the seminar were: Allegheny County Sheriff Rick Whitney; Monroe County Undersheriff William Sanborn; and Sheriff's Office representatives from Jefferson, Livingston, and Oneida counties. The NYS Sheriffs' Association and NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services were also represented.

The Oneida County Law Enforcement Coalition honored 10 officers from different county police agencies this week, recognizing their efforts in combating crime last year. The following Oneida County Sheriff's Officers received the Outstanding Service Award for their work in using DNA to bring Craig Ingersoll to justice for strangling Jennifer Bennett in 2007: Oneida County Sheriff's Sergeants Robert Nelson and Peter Healt; Investigators David Nowakowski, Christopher Ferguson, Michael Simmons and Timothy Klock. In addition, Oneida County Sheriff's Deputy Matthew Taylor received the Valor Award for rescuing a man from burning to death on the outskirts of Rome, NY.