Fund Named In Honor of Former Undersheriff

The family of former Undersheriff Richard B. Telford, who passed away Sept. 23, after a lengthy battle with cancer, has established a fund in his honor with the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation.

The Captain Undersheriff Richard D. Telford Memorial Award Fund will support a graduate of the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Academy.

Telford served with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department for more than 30 years. During his tenure of service with the Sheriff’s Office, he held multiple positions of leadership to include Deputy Sergeant, Communications Division; Lieutenant, Patrol Division; Lt. and Captain Court Security Division and team leader and member of the Fire Investigation team. Additionally, Telford spent many years teaching the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in various public schools, volunteering with the Jamestown Community Learning Council (JCLC), providing tours of the Sheriff’s office and county jail to local scouting organizations and high school classes, and served as an ethics instructor at the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Academy.

According to Jerry Lee, Community Foundation brand and marketing officer, Telford’s character and commitment to public safety paved the way toward the creation of the endowment fund in Telford’s name. The foundation will be accepting donations to grow the newly established memorial award fund. Donations can be made online at crcf.me/telford or by mailing a check to Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St.

Telford was a 1988 graduate of Jamestown High School and an alumnus of JCC, earning an A.S. in Criminal Justice.

“This is a fund administered in partnership with the Sheriff’s Academy, and each year, one person will be recognized. They’ll be basing their selection on someone who embodies the characteristics of Undersheriff Telford,” Lee said.