POUGHKEEPSIE – Mayor Rob Rolison of Poughkeepsie joined with several members of the city’s police department on Friday for a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial stone that honors three city officers who died in the line of duty. The ceremony is held annually during National Police Week.
May 15 is recognized as National Peace Officers Memorial Day, created by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. In Poughkeepsie, the ceremony honored the memory of Officers Otto Albertson and Raymond Cleveland, along with Detective John Falcone, all of whom died in the line of duty.
The police officers and support staff were joined by on-duty members of the Poughkeepsie Fire Department.
Rolison offered a brief, solemn address, telling the officers, “We appreciate what you do and we know how difficult this job is.”
Rolison is a retired Town of Poughkeepsie detective and the father of a police sergeant.
Rolison told Mid-Hudson News, “We need to stop and remember. Our officers protect this city and its 34,000 residents and do so at the risk of giving their own life for us.”
Police Benevolent Association President Kevin Van Wagner addressed the attendees and reminded his co-workers of the risks they take and “the ever-present need to be vigilant.” He also thanked the city’s firefighters who stood with the police at the ceremony.
Rolison joined Police Chief Tom Pape in placing the wreath at the memorial in front of police headquarters.
Albertson was an 18-year veteran when he died of cerebral apoplexy just hours after discovering a fire at a tailor shop in the city. The 55-year-old officer died on December 21, 1916.
Detective John Falcone, 44, died on February 18, 2011. The 18-year veteran was fatally shot by a man who, just moments earlier, had shot and killed his wife during a domestic dispute. Falcone was attempting to disarm the man when he was shot. The suspect used the gun to kill himself after taking Falcone’s life.
