SULLIVAN COUNTY — “I was honored.” Those were the words Lieutenant Cheryl Crumley used to describe her initial reaction after receiving the Sheriff Colleen M. O’Neill Award at the New York State Sheriffs’ Winter Conference in January.

The award is a statewide recognition presented by the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute and the New York State Sheriffs’ Association to women who have made significant contributions to law enforcement. First established in 2022, the honor commemorates the legacy of Colleen M. O’Neill, New York State’s first elected female sheriff, and recognizes officers whose careers reflect leader-ship, service, and dedication to advancing women in the profession. Crumley was nominated by Sullivan County Sheriff Mike Schiff for her actions during a crisis response last October, when she helped save the life of a woman experiencing a mental health emergency on a highway over-pass.

Also recognized at the ceremony was Deputy Sheriff Andrew Foertsch, who received the Associa-tion’s Deputy of the Year award for his actions on April 10, 2025. While on patrol with recruit Deputy Diana Doran, Foertsch engaged a shoplifting suspect who produced a handgun and fired at him. Foertsch returned fire with precision, wounding the suspect and ending the threat without injuries to residents in the area. The suspect, Markell D. Jarrette, was later convicted of attempted murder of a police officer and faces 62 years to life in prison. 

In his nomination letter Sheriff Schiff nominated Foertsch for demonstrating “amazing restraint and precision … in the finest traditions of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office.”

Prior to the ceremony, Crumley said she took time to research the award and better understand its significance.

“It’s given in recognition of a female officer who’s contributed to both the advancement of women in law enforcement and the mission of the sheriff’s office,” she explained. As the first female ser-geant in the patrol division and later the first female lieutenant, she said the honor carried particular meaning. “I was really honored to kind of pave the way for our women here, and women in law enforcement everywhere.”

Crumley credited extensive crisis negotiation training through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the FBI, as well as strong teamwork, for the successful outcome of the October incident. She noted that members of the Sheriff’s Office negotiation team arrived together, coordinated roles, and secured the scene seamlessly.

“We started with building rapport,” Crumley recalled. “We did everything we could do, and it worked out.”

She emphasized the importance of ongoing training, including annual attendance at the New York State Hostage Negotiators Conference. “We do case studies, we learn from people who were jumpers from their perspective and from the negotiator’s perspective,” she said. “Training together helps us put our minds where they need to be.”

Looking back, Crumley said learning that the woman survived, and later reaching out to her around Thanksgiving, was deeply meaningful. While noting the woman continues to struggle, Crumley stressed the importance of highlighting mental health resources. “I’d like people to know that there is help out there,” she said, pointing to suicide prevention resources available in Sullivan County. “There are people they can talk to.”

Beyond her work as a crisis negotiator, Crumley oversees the Sheriff’s Office School Resource Officer program, which deploys 13 officers across six school districts. The unit also leads commu-nity policing initiatives including child safety seat checks, Shop With a Cop events, and D.A.R.E. programs.

“We’re out there letting the community and the children know that we’re here for them,” Crumley said. “We’re not the bad guys. We’re here to make things better.”

During her acceptance speech, Crumley also honored women who paved the way in law enforcement, including the late Detective Corporal Debra Hall, a nearly 20-year veteran of the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office who passed away in 2015 following a battle with cancer.

“I want to thank the women who wore this uniform when it wasn’t common, and when it certainly wasn’t easy,” Crumley said. “Because of your strength and resilience, I get to stand here today.”

Reflecting on the profession, Crumley acknowledged progress while noting ongoing challenges. “There are still struggles,” she said. “But we’re making huge strides. We’re hiring more women, and every officer brings different strengths to the job. Those differences make us better.”

Her message to the public, she said, is simple. “We’re only human,” Crumley emphasized. “Just like everyone else.”