POUGHKEEPSIE – On February 18, 2011, Poughkeepsie police officer John Falcone and several of his colleagues responded to reports of shots fired in the vicinity of 56 Main Street, near the Poughkeepsie train station. Within five minutes of the calls being received, officer Falcone had been shot during a struggle with Lee Welch.
Welch had already shot his estranged wife Jessica in their vehicle while their daughter was in the car. Falcone and other officers had pursued the suspect on foot. When Falcone was wrestling with Welch, a weapon discharged, mortally wounding the veteran police officer. Falcone was posthumously promoted to the rank of detective.
Every year, on the anniversary of the line-of-duty death, police from multiple agencies along with fire and EMS personnel join Detective Falcone’s father and family members for a wreath-laying ceremony and a prayer.
The somber ceremony does not include any speeches from elected officials or law enforcement. The ceremony starts with a prayer given by a local priest, Mr. Falcone lays a wreath at the memorial stone on the spot where Falcone made the ultimate sacrifice and then City of Poughkeepsie PBA President Kevin Van Wagner thanks everyone for attending.
Police Captain Rich Wilson said that the Falcone tragedy “Made us more aware as a department.” Wilson said that Falcone’s death serves as a reminder for seasoned officers and rookies alike that complacency on the job is a dangerous thing. “We can’t let things become routine,” said Wilson after the ceremony.
