By Michelle O’Riley

WESTERLO — A quarter of a century ago, Debra Gilham became a deputy sheriff because she wanted to help people. She weathered some tough times, learned to use brain more than brawn, and, on retiring, is now being honored by some of those she helped.

The town of Westerlo declared June 1 to be Debra Gilham Day.

Gilham, the first woman to retire as a deputy sheriff from the Albany County Sheriff's Department, was the first in her family to get involved in law enforcement. She grew up in a small town where the community looked up to police officers, making law enforcement a viable career choice, she said.
"I wanted to help people and this was one way I could do that," she said

Gilham was a 28-year-old single parent when she decided to take the exam and passed. She began her 25-year career as a deputy sheriff on May 22, 1981.

Although men dominate the law-enforcement field, Gilham did not feel pressured to prove herself. There were already several women in the department when she started who broke ground, she said.
"I did find that sometimes I didn’t have the strength to get physically involved," she said, "so I had to use my brain more."

She also admits that the first couple of years were difficult at times. Gilham wanted to solve every crime but quickly realized that would be impossible.

She remembers being called to the scene of an automobile accident. All she kept thinking of was: If those involved had worn their seatbelts, they would probably have lived. She was miserable after that night and started having trouble sleeping.

With help from her sister, Gilham began learning how to deal with the unfortunate events she often encountered as a deputy sheriff. She started asking herself what lesson she should learn from each situation and tried to keep things in perspective.
"You will get burned out if you don’t; I know some people who have," Gilham said.

Spreading goodwill

Gilham also served the community as a certified emergency medical technician (EMT) and as a certified child passenger safety technician. Residents would stop by the Voorheesville patrol station and she would make sure their car seats and seatbelts met regulations.

An EMT is there to do what is needed for the patient but no one is there for the family, she said. Gilham often tried to do both – care for the patient and console or prepare the family for what was happening.
"Emergency medical services always sends an EMT on every call, she said, "and no situation is good for the most part."

Gilham was also actively involved in the New York State Sheriffs’ Association Summer Camp and Hilltowns Community Resource Center Christmas Toy and Food Drive.

The sheriffs’ summer camp on Keuka Lake gives children a chance to experience the outdoors who may not otherwise have the chance. Deputies from various counties help run activities that build positive relationships between the kids and law-enforcement officers.
"It is important for them to see us in a different light," said Gilham, "because a lot of kids are afraid of the police."

She remembers an incident where a parent warned a child to behave or the cop, who was Gilham, would arrest him. Sometimes parents say things like that and it sends the wrong message to children, she said.

Gilham worked with local organizations and businesses to provide needy children in the Hilltowns a merry Christmas. Every year, toys, food, gift certificates, and other resources are collected from the community then dispersed to local families. While children spend time with Santa Claus, parents pick out toys in the back room of the resource center.
"It was a lot of fun," she said. "The people in the community were really great. I always felt like I was just doing my job and they were giving so much more back to me."

"A tough job"

She remembers pumping gas one day and a woman walked up to her and gave her a hug. The woman wanted to thank Gilham for helping with a previous situation at her home.
"They are usually good people who have just made bad decisions," she said. "I don’t believe in putting them down. I always gave them choices and let them know that where they take it from there is up to them."

As she read aloud a card and proclamation given to her at a recent retirement dinner, she got choked up.
"I’m going to miss a lot of people," she said, "and will be walking away with a lot of good memories of the men and women I worked with."

Law-enforcement officers really get to know their co-workers, she explained; they feel happy when there is a birth and sorrow when there is a death.

After 25 years of service, Gilham handed over her uniform and found her closet absent of civilian clothes, she said jokingly. She laughs at how much money she must have saved.
"All I have are golf shirts from all the different events I participated in over the years," she said.

She would tell anyone who is interested in becoming an officer that they really have to enjoy what they are doing.
"It is a tough job and you are going to see a lot of things that you don’t want to see," she said, "but you can’t let it get you down."

Officers often deal with people who are not having the best day, Gilham said. It is also important to keep your integrity; if you say something, people will hold you to it, Gilham said.
When asked if she would do it all again, Gilham let out a hearty laugh and said, "Yeah." She then recited a quote she once read on a cemetery stone that sums it up for her:
"Where you are now, I once was, and where I am now you soon will be."

For now, Gilham will be living a simpler life spending her retirement with family and working on getting her flower garden back in shape.