Jennifer Olin, left, and Derek Osborne (Photo: Armitage Photography)
CORTLAND, N.Y. — Derek Osborne, the democratic candidate for Tompkins County Sheriff, has selected Jennifer Olin to be his candidate for undersheriff.
Olin, a lieutenant with New York State University Police at Cortland since 2010, has lived most of her life in Tompkins County. Prior to working in Cortland, she was an officer with the Ithaca Police Department. She lives in Dryden with her wife and their two children.
"The sheriff's office hasn't had a woman in the sheriff or undersheriff position since it was founded in 1817,” Osborne said in a press release. “I think it's long overdue."
Osborne said he first became acquainted with Olin while he was a captain at the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office. She interviewed for a position at the department.
“I was impressed by the caliber of her background, her experience and her seeking of higher education,” Osborne said.
Olin has an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Tompkins Cortland Community College, a bachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology from Wells College, and a master’s degree in criminal justice administration from Keuka College. She has more than a dozen certifications and awards for expertise in police response to drug abuse, domestic violence, dealing with emotionally disturbed persons and rape prevention, and for overall professional excellence.
Osborne, a Lansing resident, had a 20-year career in law enforcement, starting as a patrol officer for the City of Cortland in 1995. He joined the Tompkins County Sheriff’s Office in 2001 and worked his way up to undersheriff before retiring in 2015.
