County Mourns Passing of Sheriff Manosh

Lamoille County Sheriff Gardner Manosh died peacefully at his home Tuesday morning, December 12, following a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Sheriff Manosh will be remembered by many people for many things, from those he might have helped by personally delivering a lost purse, or those he took the time to talk to when they were having problems. But his efforts to bring emergency service dispatch to the area is perhaps his greatest legacy to the county.

In recent years, the area’s alcohol abuse problem was often on Gardner’s mind. Alcohol plays an ever increasing role in the incidents dealt with at the Sheriff’s Department.

Using his common sense approach, Gardner was often upset to see how much was spent fighting the national tobacco issue, but not alcohol abuse.

"I’ve never heard anyone come in here and say ‘that wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t have that one more cigarette,’" Gardner said often.

When Sheriff Manosh instituted 911 service for Lamoille County in 1978, it is believed to have been the first rural area to use this system in the nation. He constantly upgraded his system, and become a leader in the efforts to bring the enhanced 911 service to the entire state.

Evelyn Bailey, director of the state E-911 board, said Lamoille County was ahead of many around the state in getting address changes made. Bailey said she feels this is due, in large part, to Gardner’s willingness and desire to improve the emergency dispatch service.

When the statewide E-911 service finally went into effect, Gardner was recognized by the board as a pioneer in the 911 service.

"Under his leadership, the PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) in Lamoille County has done a brilliant job. It has served the county well," said Bailey, pointing out it is the only county wide PSAP in the state. The others are either run by the state police or municipal police departments.

On a personal note, Bailey talked of her long standing relationship with Gardner.

"He is one of my local heroes," said Bailey, who worked in Hyde Park before taking over the E-911 post. "I would often lunch there, and Gardner was always there holding court," she fondly remembered.

Bailey described him as testy and crusty at times, but said he always brought problems to attention and did not let them simmer. She said he was able to rise above the fray, as politics got involved and problems arose.

"He was right there with me," said Bailey. "I’m not a city girl and I appreciated there being some country folk that didn’t think I would fail. It was nice to see someone who agreed with me."

Through the efforts of several people, most notably Lamoille County Senator Sue Bartlett, an effort is under way to retire Gardner’s radio call-sign "S104." This is believed to be the first time in the state such an honor has been bestowed on anyone in law enforcement.

"A lot of communities would welcome the things we have taken for granted under Gardner’s tenure," said Hyde Park Selectboard chair, business partner, and close friend, Ken Harvey.

"I couldn’t ask for anyone more conciliatory. We never had an argument... as a friend, I could say he was very sincere," added Harvey.

In November of 1972, Gardner ran for sheriff against Bill Gove. He was sworn into office on February 1, 1973, taking over for the retiring sheriff, Kenneth Potter.

"When Gardner took over, it was a very parttime office. He strove to make it professional, including upgrading the training," said Ken Libby, director of operations for the Vermont Sheriff’s Association.

Over Gardner’s tenure, the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department has risen from just four or five employees to 25 full and parttime employees. Many employees are cross-trained so they can be used for both road patrol and dispatch services.

Libby said one of Gardner’s biggest assets was his ability to organize and manage people.

"On behalf of the town of Johnson and selectboard, I would like to express our condolences for is family, friends, and staff at the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department. This is a great loss for the county," said Johnson Selectboard Chair Eric Osgood.

Morristown Police Chief Richard Keith spoke highly of working with Gardner over the years.

"We had a good working relationship. He was very willing to work with me when I came into office," said Chief Keith.

"He was a man of many resources, if he didn’t know something, he wasn’t afraid to ask and find out," said Keith, "he was open to suggestions, and he asked for them."

"It’s been my pleasure to have known Gardner for well over 25 years. He has always been professional and effective," said Stowe Police Chief Ken Kaplan. "He was a leader through motivation."

Kaplan spoke highly of his work as a facilitator, pointing to the dispatch center as proof of his abilities.

"He was an asset to the Sheriff’s Association, and he will surely be missed," said Kaplan.

Gardner was good at surrounding himself with capable people. His presence will be felt at the Sheriff’s Department for many years to come, because of those who learned under him.

About six years ago, Nick Fon Eisen passed away. At the time of his death, Nick served as high bailiff for Lamoille County. The position of high bailiff becomes very important at a time when the sheriff has to be arrested, becomes incapacitated, or dies in office. Gardner asked Roy Marble, who has been a deputy sheriff since 1976, to run for the position. Gardner wanted someone in the position he could rely on, so he turned to a long time employee.

Now those employees will continue to improve what he strove to create, still under the watchful eye of S104.

In an interview about a year ago, Gardner remembered his first call involved some youths throwing ice chunks, or very hard snowballs, at a Hyde Park home.

One of Gardner’s first priorities was to update the Sheriff’s Department. He went out and bought the first cruiser, using his own money, and began switching the main priority of the department from court duties to road patrol and incident investigation.