Special farewell for longtime lawman By MARV CERMAK COVERING SCHENECTADY First published in print: Tuesday, January 26, 2010
New Schenectady County Sheriff Dom Dagostino made sure former Sheriff Barney Waldron's funeral received VIP treatment.
Seventy uniformed deputies in formation saluted Waldron when the funeral procession passed the Sheriff's Office/Jail complex. Twenty-five went on to the cemetery for a graveside honor guard. Deputies also flanked the casket during the wake. Waldron was sheriff for 19 years. Before that, he was a Schenectady cop for 22 years. He was a Republican while Dagostino is a Conservative, endorsed by Democrats.
"Barney was a good man. He was good to people, his workers and inmates and their families," Dagostino said.
Besides his 41 years in law enforcement, Waldron served in the Army during World War II. On D-Day, he was among the first troops to hit the shore on Omaha Beach.
Dagostino said the deputies involved in the funeral were a combination of on-duty officers and others paid overtime for extra duty. He said putting some officers on overtime for ceremonial duty was a matter of priorities.
"I was proud to provide proper tribute to among the last of a dying generation," he said. "The honors were deserved -- it was something Barney earned."
Logged
