His son starts as a part-time village policeman
It was the largest turnout I could remember for a police officer’s retirement. Mike Thompson left the Town of Cornwall Police Department on Monday, June 27. The parking lots at Town Hall were filled.
The lineup for the final salute included Town and Village officers as well as retirees and first responders. And they were outnumbered by the spectators, many of whom had cameras.
Shortly after two o’clock Sgt. Joe Gebert brought the gathering to order. At his command, the people in uniform snapped to attention and waited for Mike Thompson and his wife Kathryn to come out through the doors of the police station lobby. There was a few seconds pause before the couple exited the building and looked straight ahead as they walked through the lines of saluting colleagues.
When the ritual was completed, Officer Thompson went back to thank each individual on the two lines – greeting some with a handshake and others with a hug. He paused for a long time in front of his son, Robbie, who was wearing a Cornwall-on-Hudson uniform for the first time.
This has been a big week for the Thompson family.
On Friday, June 24, Robbie was sworn in as a part time police officer in the Village. He was due to start work on July 4.
The recognition for the retiring Thompson didn’t end with the ceremony outside the police station. The crowd was invited to Munger Cottage for refreshments. The guest list was impressive. Senator James Skoufis was there as well as Nancy Bryan, the outgoing school board president who had Officer Thompson as a student in the Newburgh school district.
Mayor James Gagliano and former Supervisor Richard Randazzo were at the fringe of the crowd.
Mr. Randazzo had hired Mike Thompson 23 years ago. “He was a steady performer whom everybody liked,” the former supervisor recalled. “This tribute was very well deserved.”
