On Saturday March 22, 2025, the Badge & Shield Club, Inc. held its 46th Annual Retirement and Awards Dinner. On behalf of the Committee and the Board of Directors I would like to thank everyone who worked so hard to make it a success. We had over 140 in attendance. Sheriff John Garcia was our featured speaker, and numerous awards were given out to Erie County Sheriff Deputies, support staff, two youth recipients, and a NY State Trooper during the ceremony. The event could not have been a success without the community support we receive including that from our major sponsors: Pinnacle Travel Staffing, Martin Rastelli, Proprietor; Ellicott Development, the Buffalo Bills, The DJ Channell, North Park Florist, Minuteman Press, Crown Trophy, and the wonderful full-service staff at The Columns Banquet facility. Please watch for and support this annual event to take place in March of 2026.

The badge and Shield Club will be holding a Meat Raffle at the WINGS Event Center on October 5, 2024, and we are seeking support for law enforcement and our fundraising efforts. Follow the link to print copies of our business solicitation letter which can be handed out to local businesses. As detailed in the letter, we are seeking items for baskets, or gift cards/certificates. Please consider handing copies of the letter out when you visit local businesses. Thanks, Chris

It gives us great pleasure to announce that Badge and Shield member, the late James Haas wrote a book about his career of 34 years in corrections at The Pen.  It is selling on Amazon for $14.99. Jim was truly an amazing individual!

It is already November! As the saying goes, as one gets older: “The days get longer and the years seem shorter!” November means the NFL season is half over, it’s time to vote in local elections, snow is on its way, and we celebrate Thanksgiving. The Badge & Shield Club does not endorse candidates, but we do encourage you to get out and VOTE! “Thankful” – This year, our club went out on its own and raised important funds to keep our Awards and Retirement recognition programs going. Thank you, to every member and members of their families who volunteered or participated in our monthly meetings, served on committees, worked our two chicken BBQs, bought or sold tickets for the Josh Allen #17 Jersey Raffle, and lastly supported our recent Meat Raffle, by filling a table or donating a basket or gift cards. It was so nice to see our members involved and enjoying themselves for such a good cause. Again, a big THANK YOU to all who volunteered. We also received help from the Sheriff’s Explorers at the Raffle who did a remarkable job. There is still time to purchase or sell tickets for the Josh Allen official signed Jersey raffle. The winning ticket will be pulled at our November meeting. As additional prizes, there will be a second, third, and fourth prize to our November 20th raffle. Three separate player signed hats will be given away. So, get your tickets in or email me at runccc@aol.com for more information or additional tickets.

“Community support for law enforcement is nothing new. The support given by our members, their family, neighbors, friends, and the public in general to the Badge & Shield Club for our Weidner’s Chicken BBQ on May 4th was overwhelming. We sold out of 300 chicken dinners in 90 minutes! I have to apologize to anyone who came later and couldn’t get a dinner. We are looking forward to our next fundraising Chicken BBQ on July 8th at the Hamburg Rod & Gun Club (3434 Hickox Rd, Hamburg, NY 14075). We also have our upcoming Meat Raffle on October 21st, so mark your calendars. Thank you to all the members who helped. And a special thank you to Stacy Flick for arranging her Fire Hall for us. We have returned to a March date (2024) for our annual Retirement & Awards Dinner. Unlike previous years, the Club is not presently soliciting the public with a professional fundraiser. We need the fundraisers we are organizing to help finance the annual retirement and awards program. To give our dedicated public servants acknowledgement for the career and public service they have provided these many years is the right thing to do. It is the salient event our Club offers and as your president, I am grateful that we still have the ability to honor our own. If you know of a business or individual that would like recognition as the premier sponsor of our dinner, please reach out to them, identify your contact to me, and we will follow up. Recently I came across a program for a Testimonial Dinner held on October 20, 1965, honoring then Sheriff B. John Tutuska. It was organized by local business people. A lot of the names may be familiar to some of you. It was held at the Glen Casino, a prime Williamsville venue in its day. Some of the chairs of the event were Walter Steffan, Mildren Campbell, Raymond Wardynski (meats), and Joseph Palanker (furs). Notables listed: Tom Ryan, the County Republican Chairman, Undersheriff Leo Kennedy, Charles Diebold, President of Western Savings Bank, Rev. Carl Burke, Champlain – Erie County Jail, and Miss Elayne J. Taylor, Coordinator of the “Tutuska-teers “. The Tutuska­ Teers were a group of young ladies, like cheerleaders, who traveled to political events, fundraisers, and parties. They sang and performed while introducing Sheriff Tutuska to those attending. They warmed up the audience, like an opening act, in anticipation of the Sheriff’s arrival. I’ve been told that many of the deputy’s wives, girlfriends, and maybe even wives-to-be were part of this entourage. They had their own song that started out: “B. John Tutuska is a dedicated man…” (when you see Sam Amato ask him to sing a few bars for you). The National Anthem was performed by the Business Representative, Painters District Council No.4 and the main address was given by the Vice-President of American Airlines, Harvey G. Foster. What an extravaganza! It is a prime example of how the community went all-out

Good food and camaraderie were enjoyed by the 41 members and 8 guests at our April meeting at Danny’s North on Genesee Street. If you are looking for a nice place to take a date or the family out to eat, Danny’s is a good choice, whether in Cheektowaga or their Orchard Park location. Due to a glitch, there was no split club this month. The Badge & Shield Club has a rich history of serving its members and the community. Our club has volunteered for the Channel 17 Auction, the Variety Club Telethon, and various other community events and organizations. Next month the Club will celebrate its 67th year anniversary. Its constitution and by-laws were filed before NY State Supreme Court Justice Geo. H. Rowe on May 21, 1956. Its Board of Directors came from every part of the County – From Buffalo: Joe Gullo, Vermont St., Tom Hassett, McKinley Pkwy., Valentine Dzuik, Burgard Pl., lrm Mitchell, Royal Ave., Anthony Palermo, S. Division St., Gene Donohue, Delaware Ave., William Buyers, Tennyson Ave.; From Lackawanna: Mitchell Kukoleca, Gates Ave.; and From Grand Island: Philip Fahrer, E. River Rd. The annual dues in 1956 were $10. All things considered, the dues have not increased much since. The Club’s first president was Joe Gullo. He was the Chief of Patrol when I started in 1973. The purpose of the Club was to “cultivate social intercourse among its members”, as found on page 4 of its by-laws. Previously serving as the Club’s 6th (1977-1978) and now as the 14th President of the Badge & Shield Club, I challenge you, our members, to get involved, attend meetings, contribute to the newsletter, serve on a committee, and support our Club’s events and fundraising activities.