‘An Extraordinary Leader’: County Sheriff’s Deputy Rich Telford Dies

Pictured is Deputy Sheriff Rich Telford, who was 63 years old when area police officers, elected officials, firefighters and residents paid their respects to the longtime Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office employee after news of Telford’s death spread Monday.

Law enforcement members and family members are mourning the loss of Chautauqua County sheriff’s deputy Rich Telford.

Telford was appointed to the position in 2021. He was a 1988 Jamestown High School graduate, studied criminal justice at Jamestown Community College and worked part-time for the Ellicott Police Department for a short time before being hired full-time by the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office in April 1991. Telford died Monday.

“It is with a heavy heart that the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office announces the passing of Deputy Richard Telford,” the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook early Tuesday morning. “Deputy Telford passed away with his family by his side.”

Telford lived in Sinclairville with his wife Amanda. They have three children, Katelynn, Andrew and Alex. The Jamestown native worked for the Sheriff’s Office for 33 years, starting as a deputy before being promoted to sergeant to oversee the county’s 911 center. Telford eventually became a lieutenant in the Sheriff’s Office and later became the chief of court security. He also served on the department’s fire investigation team, a team made up of members from the Sheriff’s Office and the fire department that helped determine a cause for several fires in the county. In January 2020, Telford attended the FBI National Academy, a 10-week program for U.S. and international law enforcement executives that offers courses in intelligence theory, terrorism and terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communications and forensic science. Telford, Sheriff James Quattrone and Capt. David Bentley graduated from the academy.

“It is with deep sorrow that I share the news of the passing of our Deputy Sheriff Richard Telford. His loss is deeply felt throughout Chautauqua County and the community he so faithfully served,” County Executive P.J. Wendel said late Tuesday. “Deputy Telford was an outstanding leader, a dedicated public servant and a colleague whom many of us were honored to work alongside. His dedication to our community and the impact he had on all of us will never be forgotten. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, loved ones and friends during this incredibly difficult time. In this time of grief, let us come together to support one another and reflect on the values he stood for: integrity, service and care for the community.”

As news of Telford’s passing spread Tuesday, tributes poured in from former colleagues, friends of the Telford family who followed in his father Chuck’s footsteps as a young man, members of the fire department who worked with Telford throughout his career, former county executive and current state senator George Borrello, Mayor Kim Ecklund, former Sheriff Joe Gerace and neighborhood residents who respected the former deputy.

“Those who knew the deputy can already speak of his wonderful qualities,” the Sheriff’s Office stated in a Facebook post. “For those who never had the privilege and honor of knowing him, I would like to share just a few of the qualities that made him a great law enforcement officer, supervisor, great friend (to many) and most importantly, a great father, husband, brother and son. Rich was a man of integrity, who could always be trusted to do the right thing. He displayed unparalleled courage, which he demonstrated in his courageous fight last year and throughout his 30+ years of service to this county. His character was evident as he always displayed the wonderful values we have come to rely on. Respect – Not only did Rich show unconditional respect in all of his dealings, but the respect that so many people had for him was also evident.”

Telford told The Post-Journal shortly after becoming a sheriff’s deputy in 2021 that law enforcement was not his goal when he attended Jamestown Community College before entering the Sheriff’s Academy.

Asked about a memory that stood out from his early days as a sheriff’s deputy, Telford recounted a time he intervened in a domestic dispute near the village of Brocton, helping to carry two young children to a nearby substation to await a domestic violence advocate.

“I remember them hearing a car in the parking lot and wondering if their dad was coming to get them,” Telford said. “You just hope to do something good — in this case, get them out of that situation. It was also about being able to comfort the kids.”

Telford told The Post-Journal that he sees dozens of fires each year, some more prominent than others. He recalled a fire that killed two young children and a fire that killed a young Amish boy when he was first on the County Fire Investigation Team.

“Those calls and those cases, and then you go home and I used to give my kids extra hugs,” Telford says. “Now they’re a phone call away — you just call them and tell them you love them.”

A memorial service for Telford will be held at noon Friday at Bemus Point Methodist Church, and friends will be received Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. In lieu of flowers, Rich’s request was that memorial donations be made to the Jamestown Community Learning Council, 501 W. Third St., Jamestown, NY 14701. A full obituary will be published in The Post-Journal on Thursday. Arrangements are by Lind Funeral Home.