Photo by Dennis Phillips James Quattrone, center, is sworn in office by Judge Stephen Cass, far right, as Chautauqua County sheriff at the courthouse in Mayville Tuesday. Also pictured are members of Quattrone's family.

MAYVILLE — The top two law enforcement officials in Chautauqua County were sworn in during a special ceremony at the Chautauqua County Courthouse in Mayville Tuesday.

James Quattrone, county sheriff, was sworn in by Judge Stephen Cass in front of family, friends and colleagues. Quattrone defeated Joe Gerace, during the November election, ending Gerace’s 24-year tenure as county sheriff.

As Quattrone’s first official act as the new county sheriff, he swore in Darryl Braley as the new undersheriff for the county. Braley will be replacing Charles Holder, who had more than 30 years of law enforcement experience with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, the last 13 spent as the second-in-command to Gerace.

During the special ceremony, Quattrone’s wife, Nancy, of 26 years officially gave the new sheriff his badge. Quattrone’s four children, Jennifer, Christopher, Sam and Abigail, stood by their father and mother as Cass swore in the new sheriff.

Quattrone said it was a great honor to win the election and he enjoyed getting to know many people during the campaign throughout the county.

“It was great to meet the people of Chautauqua County,” he said.

One of Quattrone’s campaign focuses was on more collaboration with all law enforcement agencies in the county. He is looking forward to working with officials from the other law enforcement agencies to keep county residents safe.

“I missed the people and I missed the job also,” Quattrone said about returning to the job after retiring after 30 years of service with the sheriff’s office before running for sheriff.

Cass said the swearing in event Tuesday afternoon was mostly ceremonial as Quattrone was officially sworn in at 12:30 a.m. Cass said Quattrone wanted to get right to work by meeting with sheriff’s office personnel whom were working New Year’s Eve.

During the ceremony, several elected representatives like U.S. Congressman Tom Reed, R-Corning; state Sen. Cathy Young, R-Olean; state Assemblyman Andy Goodell, R-Jamestown; and George Borrello, county executive spoke during the ceremony.

“I’ve never seen a law enforcement official with more compassion than Jim Quattrone,” Young said.

Also during the ceremony, Quattrone’s campaign manger Michael Richner, Al Henderickson, Chautauqua County Republic Party Committee member; and David C. Ortolano, Dunkirk Police Department chief, spoke about Quattrone’s many qualities that he will use as the county’s lead public safety official. An invocation and benediction was performed by the Rev. Daniel Cook.

Prior to being elected sheriff, Quattrone had 30 years experience with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office, serving 15 years in a supervisory position. He began his career in 1987 on the navigation patrol and, for a brief period, worked at the county jail prior to attending the Sheriff’s Academy.

In 1988, he was appointed to the road patrol and later assigned to the STOP DWI patrol. He was subsequently promoted to sergeant, then to lieutenant – the rank he held when he retired.

Quattrone has been involved with the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the Mental Health Association, Addiction Response Ministry, United Christian Advocacy Network and served as the executive director of the UCAN City Mission in Jamestown. He serves on the Chautauqua County Community Services Board and is an instructor and consultant for New York State Crisis Intervention Team Training and the NYS Fundamental Crisis Skills for Law Enforcement. He has been an instructor at the Zone 13 Police Training Academy for the past 28 years.

Quattrone is a graduate of the Zone 13 Basic Course for Police Officers, state Division of Criminal Justice Police Supervision Course, state Division of Criminal Justice Hostage Negotiations, the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., and the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Course. He received a Master of Science Degree in the administration of justice from Mercyhurst College and has a Bachelor of Science Degree in criminal justice from Rochester Institute of Technology.

Quattrone is a lifelong resident of Chautauqua County. He and his wife live in Lakewood and are the parents of four adult children.