Who Is Charlie Dechon?

Charlie hits the campaign trail with his Granddaughter Riley

Charlie Dechon is an experienced leader with outstanding people skills who is active in many community and benevolent organizations. He has a proven ability to work in multicultural and diverse communities among all socio-economic groups, with positive results. Charlie has strong crisis intervention skills and is an excellent communicator. He also has strong organizational skills and the ability to recognize and resolve problems efficiently and effectively. His knowledge of the law and its applications lead to the successful resolution of difficult and varied situations.

Charlie’s life has been one of service. A third-generation law enforcement officer, Charlie spent over 20 years as a New York State Trooper. Both of his grandfathers and his father were New York City police officers, and Charlie was raised in a strong law and order environment that put service to others above service to self. Among himself, his father and grandfathers, they have more than 100 years of experience dealing with the law and how it affects our society. This experience makes Charlie uniquely qualified for the local criminal court position of Town Justice. Charlie has had to apply the law instantly in many volatile situations, and his knowledge and experience are extensive.

Charlie served this country honorably as a Marine during the Vietnam war

During Vietnam, Charlie served our country by enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. Charlie spent several years working on Wall Street and then served our state in the New York State Police for 21 years. He was based in the Ellenville barracks as a uniformed trooper and was promoted to Investigator in the BCI (Bureau of Criminal Investigation).

Charlie’s knowledge and experience are recognized across party lines. Representative Maurice Hinchey (Dem.) appointed Charlie to represent the Town of Wawarsing on the Public Safety Committee of the Congressman’s Rural Economic Area Partnership Task Force for Sullivan County and the Town of Wawarsing. The committee was tasked with making recommendations to Congressman Hinchey concerning emergency services and the criminal justice system operations in Sullivan County and the Town of Wawarsing.

In 1999, then-Mayor TJ Briggs sought Charlie’s leadership and initiative in developing a Youth Court in Ellenville. Charlie involved the Ulster County Family Court, local law enforcement, local criminal court, Ellenville Central School District and the Ulster County Department of Probation and began one of the most successful juvenile crime prevention programs in Ulster County. Charlie personally wrote the curriculum for this program, The Evolution of Law, which he has taught to high school students for the past nine years. Students are trained to be judge, prosecutor, defense council, court clerk, bailiff and jury forepersons, as well as jurors in the Ellenville/Wawarsing Youth Court. The Youth Court is an alternative to the local criminal courts or Family Court for first-time non-violent juvenile offenders, allowing them to be tried by their peers. Offenders that have been processed through the Ellenville/Wawarsing Youth Court are repeat offenders at a rate of less than 12%.

Subsequently, Charlie was asked to serve on the Ellenville Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, an unpaid position that oversees the public senior and low-income housing in Ellenville. Charlie has been involved in mediating landlord-tenant disputes, human rights violations, and policy-making decisions for the past nine years. He is currently the Treasurer of the Board.

Charlie also serves as the Judge Advocate of the American Legion Cook-Taylor Post 111, where he is called upon to interpret laws and policies of the National and State Department of the American Legion. He presides over hearings of members who are accused of violating any of the by-laws of the American Legion or post. Charlie was recently given the task of rewriting the Post Constitution and By-Laws. No easy feat, but Charlie was up to the task, completing the assignment this past June.

Charlie In The Town of Wawarsing

Charlie and his wife Noreen have been active in the town for almost three decades

Charlie and his wife Noreen live in Ellenville and have four children who have all graduated from Ellenville Central School District. Colleen Dechon graduated as Class Valedictorian in 1995 and is employed by American Express as a Senior Manager of Acquisition Capabilities. Patrick Dechon graduated in 1997 and is employed at Ellenville High School as a Science teacher. Michael Dechon graduated in 1999 and is employed by Gillette Creamery and also works part time as a Police Officer with the Ellenville Police Department. Stephen Dechon graduated in 2007 and is currently attending Ulster County Community College where he is majoring in Biology. Charlie’s family is active in our community volunteering at many community events, such as the Senior Citizens Dinner, the Holiday Lights Program, the Community Band, Avon Breast Cancer Walk (local and New York City events), Ellenville Booster Club, St. Mary & St. Andrew Parish Council, SONY Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The most recent addition to the Dechon family is a beautiful granddaughter, Riley Erin Dechon, born to Patrick and his lovely wife, Adrienne. You may have met Riley at this year’s Blueberry festival.

You Have Met Charlie

Charlie has been very active with the American Legion and many other community groups for years

While a member of the New York State Police and since retirement, Charlie has chaired or co-chaired several events for the State of New York Special Olympics including the SONY Special Olympic Winter Games at the Nevele Resort and several golf tournaments that have raised over $80,000 for SONY Special Olympics. Charlie is still active with the New York State Police Ski Team that hosts the annual Northeastern Police Ski Championships, which has raised over $120,000 for Make-A-Wish New York. Charlie also was the head ski instructor for the Ellenville Police Athletic League Ski Program that was held at the Nevele Resort for several years until the retirement of director, Officer Paul Craft. Currently Charlie co-chairs the annual Ulster/Greene ARC Golf Tournament to aid our local citizens. Charlie also is a volunteer for the American Red Cross and serves on the Ulster County Health and Safety Committee as well as teaching swimming, lifeguarding, first aid, CPR/AED courses locally.

Maybe you met Charlie during his tenure as a uniform Trooper at the Ellenville barracks, or while working with the BCI. Charlie was an original member of the New York State Police Child Abuse Unit that investigated the physical and sexual exploitation of our children. As such, Charlie was often requested to speak at seminars or training for law enforcement, teachers and nurses. Charlie was also a member of the New York State Police Hostage Negotiation/Anti-Terrorist Unit and worked several high profile hostage cases in the Mid Hudson area. Charlie was often called to the State Police Academy to train new Troopers and Investigators in Constitutional Law, Search and Seizure procedures, Hostage Negotiation, Criminal Investigation, Interview and Interrogation Techniques, Forensics, the Identification and Investigation of Child Abuse and Crisis Intervention. Many public and private agencies have called upon Charlie’s expertise as well as many local law enforcement agencies.

Maybe you met Charlie outside of his employment. Perhaps you were “Mother of the Day” while Charlie was “Father of the Day” at the Ellenville Cooperative Nursery School. You may have sat together while your kids played baseball at the Ellenville Little League off the Edwards Place extension, or soccer at the Ed Jacobs Soccer League in Spring Glen. He may seem familiar from his volunteering or attendance at many of the community and school events that have taken place over the years. You may have sat together while Charlie and Noreen watched their children playing in the High School Band. It might have been Charlie monitoring the soundboard and lights during several of the High School play productions. You may have cheered together while your children played on the Ellenville High School Girls Volleyball or Basketball team. Your sons may have played together on the Ellenville football, baseball, tennis, golf, or soccer teams. It may be that Charlie coached your child on the Ellenville Middle School baseball or football teams. He may have been your sons’ Junior Varsity or Varsity football coach, or maybe he taught your child while he was a Project Adventure instructor at Ellenville High School.

You may remember him as a participant or volunteer during the early years of the Ellenville “Run Like the Wind” to benefit the Ellenville First Aid and Rescue Squad. Perhaps he chaperoned your child at one of the Ellenville Police Athletic League’s basketball clinics or wrapping presents for the Ellenville Police Departments Toys for Tots program. You may have seen him during the Ellenville Noonday Club annual Halloween Festival or Senior Citizen Dinner. Perhaps he may have taught your child to ski while overseeing the Police Athletic League’s Ski program at the Nevele. Most recently Charlie volunteered to deliver food, water, and assistance to participants and volunteers during the New York State Fireman’s Parade. As the Judge Advocate of the American Legion Cook-Taylor Post 111, Charlie is the Master of Ceremonies for the annual Memorial Day Service and participates in the 4th of July parade. You may have seen him and his wife at the Community Band Concerts listening proudly to their youngest, Stephen playing for our entertainment and enjoyment.

Charlie poses for a photo with Rebecca as he presents a check for the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Affiliations

• American Legion Cook-Taylor Post 111
  • Judge Advocate
  • Boys State Chairman
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Deleo-Braunstein Post 8959
• Vietnam Veterans of America
• Third Marine Division Association
• Knights of Columbus Rondout Valley Chapter
• New York State Troopers PBA
• International Association of Police Investigators
• New York State Police Investigators Association
• National Youth Court Association
• New York State Youth Court Association
• National Federation of High School Coaches
• Ellenville Housing Authority Commissioner
  • Treasurer
• Ellenville/Wawarsing Youth Commission
  • Safety Officer
  • Pool Director
• Ulster/Greene ARC
  • Co-Chairman of Annual Fundraising Golf Tournament
• Ellenville Noonday Club
  • Halloween Festival
  • Senior Citizens Dinner
• Ellenville Booster Club
• American Red Cross Ulster County Chapter
  • Health and Safety Committee
  • First Aid Instructor
  • CPR/AED Instructor
  • Oxygen Administration Instructor
  • Lifeguard Instructor
  • Waterfront Instructor
  • Water Safety Instructor
  • Lifeguard Management Instructor
  • First Responder Instructor
  • Prevention of Disease Transmission Instructor
• New York State Troopers Ski Team
  • President
  • Co-Chairman of the Northeastern Police Ski Championships fundraising event for Make-A-Wish New York

Past Affiliations

• Ellenville School Safety Committee
• St. Mary & St. Andrew Parish Council
  • Co-Chairperson
• Ellenville Police Athletic League
  • Head Ski Instructor Learn to Ski Program held at the Nevele Resort
  • Toys for Tots program
  • Instructor Basketball Clinics
• Sullivan County – Town of Wawarsing Rural Economic Area Partnership Task Force
  • Appointed by Congressman Maurice Hinchey to represent the Town of Wawarsing on the Public Safety Committee
• SONY Special Olympics
  • Chairman of the Winter Games at the Nevele Resort
  • Law Enforcement Torch Relay
  • Co-Chairman of annual Fundraising Golf Tournament for the Hudson Valley area
• Ellenville PTO
• Local 46 – Wood, Plaster and Wire Lathers Union