Sheriff L. Michael Tabolt is a 1967 graduate of Lowville Academy and a 2004 graduate of the National Sheriffs’ Academy of Longmont, Colorado. He has received extensive police training in many areas. The Sheriff is a Certified Hostage Negotiator, the Sheriff’s Department’s first Certified Firearms Instructor - FBI-BMP, New York State Level II Fire Investigator and has been a Volunteer Fireman for 31 years. He has been a Deputy Sheriff since 1975 and worked under four previous Sheriffs. In 1978, Sheriff Tabolt was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. In 1992, he was promoted to the rank of Inv. Sergeant and served as the County Emergency Manager and Fire Coordinator from 1999 through December 2003. Sheriff Tabolt received two Silver Star Awards for bravery, One Special Act Award as well as a number of awards from fire departments and other organizations. He was the Incident Commander for Lewis County during 1995 microburst and four other natural disaster events and has re-written the County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The Sheriff has been instrumental in the County’s usage of the National Incident Command System (NIMS).