ONTARIO COUNTY, New York — Ontario County Senior Communications Officer Nathan Martin has been recognized as a 2026 Hometown Hero after nearly two decades of service in emergency communications and community public safety, according to Finger Lakes Daily News.

The outlet reported that the Kiwanis Club of Geneva honored Martin on Thursday as a recipient of its 2026 Hometown Hero Award. The story identified Martin as a longtime member of the Ontario County Sheriff's Office communications team.

Seventeen years behind the headset

Martin has served as a 911 dispatcher for 17 years, including the last 12 years in a supervisory role, Finger Lakes Daily News reported. During that time, he has helped coordinate emergency responses and provide leadership inside the county's Emergency Communications Center.

The report also noted Martin's broader public-safety service, including his work as a past fire chief, his life membership with the West Lake Road Fire Department, and his volunteer role as a deputy fire coordinator with Ontario County Emergency Management.

Recognition for the public-safety work most people never see

For Support Law Enforcement readers, Martin's recognition is a reminder that public safety does not begin only when lights and sirens arrive. Dispatchers gather the first facts, keep callers connected, help responders understand what they are walking into and keep the radio moving when pressure is high.

The Kiwanis Club of Geneva's Hometown Hero Award recognizes people who have made significant contributions to their communities through service and leadership, according to the local report.

Martin's story is the kind of quiet, steady public service that rarely goes viral — but it is foundational to every emergency response.

Sources reviewed

Editorial note: ThinBlueNews used source-reported facts and a real source photo credited to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office/Facebook by Finger Lakes Daily News. The article avoids adding private emergency-call details or unsupported claims.