The Chenango County Sheriff’s Office flew their flags at half-staff in honor of retired Lt. Richard Cobb, who died on July 30 and served the office for 20 years. From left to right, those depicted in the photo are Detective Anthony Lawrence, Sgt. Clarence Ellingsen, Detective Sgt. Chad O’Hara, Lt. Jeffrey Barton, Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr., Undersheriff Dustin Smietana, Lt. Tracy Rotundo, Sgt. Nathan Warner, Chief Dispatcher George Finch and Chief Civil Clerk Craig Allison. (Photo by Lilli Iannella; portraits submitted by the Chenango County Sheriff's Office)

CHENANGO COUNTY– Richard Michael Cobb, who had retired from the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in 2018 after 20 years of service, died unexpectedly on July 30 at Chenango Memorial Hospital. He was 53.

To many working at the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, they remember Cobb as not only a colleague but also a mentor, counselor and friend.

Undersheriff Dustin Smietana said Cobb taught deputies about self-discipline and to be the best versions of themselves.

Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. described Cobb as an “honorable and distinguished officer” and “tremendous husband and parent.”

Cobb started working at the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office in 1998 as a deputy sheriff, Smietana said. In 2003, Cobb was promoted to sergeant, and in 2007, he served as detective sergeant. Two years later, in 2009, he rose to lieutenant, and he spent the rest of his nine years at the office in that position until retiring in May 2018.

A month before his retirement, the sheriff’s office awarded Cobb for “outstanding dedication to the field of law enforcement and corrections.”

During his time at the sheriff’s office, Cobb worked on many big homicide cases, Smietana said.

“He put the same effort into every case he worked and was tireless at it,” Smietana said.