Community gathers to say goodbye

OLEAN, N.Y. (WIVB) - Sheriff Dennis John took his own life along a solitary road in the Town of Cold Spring.

Saturday, a grief stricken community gathered to say goodbye.

The uniforms were all different but on Saturday in Olean their mission was the same.

Hundreds of law enforcers were on hand to say goodbye to beloved Cattaraugus County Sheriff Dennis John.

Helicopters flew overhead as a tribute to the first Native American sheriff in New York State.

Seneca Nation President, Barry Snyder said, "He was dedicated to improving the quality of life for the Seneca people."

Friends and family remembered a man who was always there for his community and took his role in law enforcement seriously.

"He was one of the few people we could consider a born leader," said Cattaraugus County Undersheriff, Timothy Whitcomb.

Whitcomb talked about the difficult week for the entire Cattaraugus County sheriff's office.

"Observing our sheriff's office family coming together leaves me with a conclusion that I can share with this family with absolute certainty. Our sheriff has never been more proud of all of you," Whitcomb said.

His friends in law enforcement, many who knew him for years, said there's now a huge hole in their hearts and that this loss is going to be difficult to get used to.

Major Christopher Cummings from the New York State Police said,"Friends like Dennis don't come around often in life. It's going to be difficult to not push a button on my phone and talk to Dennis."

After the service, a flag was presented to the family of Sheriff Dennis John as a reminder of his years of dedication to his country and his community.

He will be buried in traditional Seneca Nation tradition.

 

Media release of Sheriff John Funeral Thank You:

On behalf of Sheriff John’s wife Sharon, his children Jessica, Stacey and
Denny, and the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office, I would like to
convey our sincerest thanks to all who expressed their condolences and
gave us support in our time of need.

From the smallest expression of sorrow to the largest gift of time or effort, every act of kindness is appreciated and cherished.

It will be a very long time before any of us who have been so deeply impacted by the Sheriff’s death can find peace with what happened.

Times like this remind us of how interconnected we all are; how dependent on others we are; and how none of us has to face life’s challenges alone.

In our extended Sheriff’s Office family, each of us has looked deep inside ourselves and depended on our own circles of support to come to terms with the tragedy that struck us.

None of us realized how large those circles can be. The outpouring of support is never more evident as we witness the events of today.

It is a testament to the man we honor and remember.

Now we all move forward. We move forward being touched by the generosity of others. We move forward with the renewed sense of camaraderie and purpose that comes from sharing the burden of tragedy together.

Most importantly, we move forward with the finest memories of our Sheriff, our leader, and most importantly, of our friend, of my friend, Dennis John.