Marlborough honors fallen officers

By Mark Reynolds
Posted 12/14/22

Every year, in early December, the Marlborough Police Department holds a Blue Light ceremony in honor of those in law enforcement who died in the line of duty.

Pastor David Stein, of the …

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Marlborough honors fallen officers

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Every year, in early December, the Marlborough Police Department holds a Blue Light ceremony in honor of those in law enforcement who died in the line of duty.

Pastor David Stein, of the Lattingtown Baptist Church in Milton, offered an invocation.

“Lord, we recognize tonight that this past year might have held a loss for families as we think about those fallen Police Officers that we lost over the past calendar year,” he said. “You say Lord that we shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice; you shall be sorrowful but your deepest sorrow shall be turned into joy; not a joy that is found in the absence of sadness but one that in the midst of our sadness, there is a peace that’s within. Lord, we ask that your spirit of peace, of joy and of comfort would be with each and every family that’s lost a loved one.”

Officer Curt Fulton said traditionally police uniforms are generally some shade of blue, a tradition that dates back to the early 1800s. The blue color was an English tradition that was carried over to the New York City Police Department, one of the first departments that was established in the nation. Fulton said the police wore dark blue outer-coats that had double rows of copper buttons, thus the term ‘coppers’ or ‘cops’ was born. He pointed out that the tree they decorate outside the station has blue lights on it as a way to honor the history of the police and to remember those who were killed in the line of duty.

“The thin blue line represents the officers, men and women, your family, friends, neighbors, maybe your sons or daughters, all members of the public who put on a blue uniform, don body armor, carry appropriate tools and weapons, and live and work in a mobile office for eight hours at a time, sometimes longer, in order to stand in the gap to serve and protect both strangers and neighbors alike,” Fulton said.

Fulton pointed out that Marlborough’s Police Department stands ready 24/7, serving as a deterrent between order and chaos, anarchy and civilized society and decency and lawlessness.

A white tree in the department’s lobby was also trimmed in blue light to honor police officers nationwide. It had 207 small glass ornaments, made by Officer Bruce Griffing in the shape of a police officers shield, that were affixed to this tree as a reminder of those lost in 2022. This is down from last year’s total of 652, however, the percentage of officers who were shot to death has increased compared to last year.

In New York State 11 officers were lost and each had their ‘shield’ with their name on it pinned on the lobby tree by a volunteer.

After a moment of silence, ‘Taps’ was played by Marlboro high school student R. J. Jackson.
In closing, Fulton urged the public to display a single blue light in their window at home.

“Our officers as they patrol throughout the Town of Marlborough will notice and thank you in their hearts for your support,” he said.

Police Chief Gerald Cocozza said it is important to reflect upon all of the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice.

“It keeps us real, it keeps us honest and it keeps us in reality It’s something we face every day and we hope we all go home but we realize that some of us don’t make it, so it’s nice to remember them around the holidays. All of the Supervisors have been all for the ceremony and we keep it going.”

Former Supervisor Al Lanzetta said he started the Blue Light ceremony at the Police station in 2006. His wife Cindy had read about the tradition on line, “and I thought that’s a wonderful thing,” with Al saying, “we thought it would be great for our Police Department. We tried it and everybody seemed to like it at Christmas time. It gives the community a good feeling to actually see their own policemen, and they have always done a great job with the ceremony.”