Rockland Remembers Orangetown Police Officers on Anniversary of Deaths

Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Zugibe remembered his father's reaction 40 years ago to the deaths in the line of duty of Orangetown Police Officers Michael Reedy and Thomas Kennedy.

Dr. Frederick Zugibe, then Rockland County's Chief Medical Examiner, rarely showed any emotional reaction to his work, but he did that evening.
"I remember him coming home from work that evening very emotional," Thomas Zugibe said. "Rarely did I see my dad emotioanal, but this case had that impact. It had a devastating impact on him and it was something burned into my mind forever."

Reedy and Kennedy were working at the scene of an accident on Route 303 in Blauvelt Aug. 2, 1973 when they were run down by a drunk driver who also had amphetamines in his system. Their deaths had a profound effect that is still remembered in Orangetown and the rest of Rockland County.

Members of officers' families joined law enforcement officers, emergency responders and local officials in Orangetown Town Hall Friday morning to honor Reedy and Kennedy on the 40th anniversary of their deaths Friday as the town dedicated its new emergency operations center in their names.

"I thank all of you," Michael Reedy's brother Steve said. "I can't tell you what it means to the families. The day of the funeral, we came out of St. Margaret's (Church in Pearl River) and we looked down Central Avenue and all the way up Central on both sides of the street were police from everywhere. It seemed like a mile of police officers. It made us so proud. It was such an honor."

Law enforcement divisions from all over were once again in attendance Friday, with representatives from the Rockland County Sheriff's Department, New York State Police, FBI, DEA and Clarkstown Police among those in attendance. In addition to Steve Reedy and Zugibe, Friday's speakers included Rockland County Legislature Chair Harriet Cornell, Rockland County Office of Fire & Emergency Servicdes Director Gordon Wren, Jr., Orangetown Highway Superintendent James Dean, Orangetown PBA President James Acheson, Rockland County Sheriff Lou Falco and Orangetown Supervisor Andy Stewart Orangetown Police Chief Kevin Nulty coordinated the event with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Pastor John Havrilla presenting the opening prayer and St. Gregory's Parhis Deacon George Albin giving the closing prayer. 

"We've been talking about this dedication for a year or two an it's really come to pass," Reedy said. "It was (Nulty's) vision and he really made it a reality. It's great that it is an operations center and it's so great that it is dedicated to Tom Kennedy and Mike."

Dean also spoke of Nulty's role in getting the work done on the emergency operations center, as well as the support of the Orangetown Town Board. The town also created an Emergency Management Committee, with Councilman Tom Diviny as liaison. 

"Supervisor Stewart, the town board members and especially Tom Diviny, who has worked very hard with our committee and all the volunteers to make this happen," Dean said. "We can't forget that without (Nulty's) guidance and leadership, this never would have happened."

"The most meaningful thing is we are all here and we are remembering the Reedy and Kennedy families and we are remembering the sacrifices those two men made for our town," Stewart said. "And we are remembering that life is sacred and that our actions today in our work and the actions of our police department and first responders, who are so well represented here today, are imbued with that spirit. In times of emergency, especially in times of crisis, we are reminded that we are motivated by the protection of life and the celebration of that."

The emergency operations center is in the town hall's multi-purpose room. Orangetown Police Officer Huey Johnson, the department's emergency management officer, explained that instead of taking hours to set up the emergency operations center in one of the town hall's court rooms, it can now be set up within 20 minutes in an emergency. 

"We always felt we had a good organization and operation, but we didn't really have a communication center that would enable us to be better and now we're going to have that," Dean said. "How fitting it is that it's been named after young men who gave their lives trying to protect citizens in Orangetown in an emergency."

Dean was working in the town in 1973 and he spoke of the impact of the two officers' deaths.

"I remember the impact it had on those young families," Dean said. "I remember the impact it had on our community. It was really devastating for us to deal with the fact that this happened."

Havrilla began his work as a pastor in Pearl River just a month before Reed and Kennedy were killed. 

"I am here having just celebrated my 40th anniversary of ordination and I have 40 years to look back on, but those two men do not and we do not have that shared history with them. As I thought about it, and forgive me for being this personal, but the contrast took hold of me and reminded me how precious young life is.

"When two young servants of the community lose their lives, a part of our life dies with them. For 40 years, our community has been less than it could have been because those two officers lost their lives."

Zugibe also spoke about the legal impact of the deaths of Reedy and Kennedy, which he said helped lead to improved law enforcement in the area of alcohol-related offenses.

"It was an unspeakable tragedy 40 year go, but I believe this terrible loss and sacrifice played a vital role in changing our public perception, leading to tougher laws and attitudes and did in fact lead to saving lives."

Orangetown has held annual ceremonies honoring Reedy and Kennedy, who are also remembered among other police officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty at the county, state and national level.

"Throughout the years, thousands of law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the line of duty," Acheson said. "What separates these men from those thousands is they were our own. They were our officers. They were members of our community. They were our brothers. Today with the dedication of the Orangetown Emergency Operations Center, we add a small piece to our community and renew our pledge to always remember what these great men and their families have sacrificed, which is everything. For that we remember and say thank you."

After the ceremony, the Orangetown Police Honor Guard placed flowers at the graves of Reedy and Kennedy.

During the ceremony, pictures of Reedy and Kennedy and a plaque in their honor that normally hang in the Orangetown Police Department were on display. Nulty spoke about how often every Orangetown police officer sees the plaque. 

"I look at Mike and Tom....as the guardian angels of our patrols as they go out on the street every day, to keep them safe. To look over them," Nulty said. "As we open the emergency operations center in the names of Officer Reedy and Officer Kennedy, they will now become the guardian angels of everybody in the town of Orangetown."