LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh upon the occasion
of his retirement after 20 years of distinguished service as Onondaga
County Sheriff

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and honor
those distinguished citizens who would devote themselves to public
service protection, demonstrating great courage and diligence in provid-
ing for the care and welfare of the citizens of their communities and
this great Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Within every community of the State of New York there are
certain individuals who, by virtue of their commitment and dedication,
command the respect and admiration of their community for their exem-
plary contributions and service on behalf of others; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Sheriff Kevin
E. Walsh upon the occasion of his retirement after 20 years of distin-
guished service as Onondaga County Sheriff; and
WHEREAS, Kevin E. Walsh was raised in Skaneateles, New York, and
attended college at SUNY Oswego, Oswego, New York; and
WHEREAS, After graduation, Kevin E. Walsh entered the United States
Army serving as a military policeman in Korea and Germany, and later as
a helicopter door gunner on more than 250 combat missions in Vietnam,
where he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with nine clus-
ters; and
WHEREAS, Following his military service, Kevin E. Walsh joined the
Onondaga County Sheriff's Office in 1966 as a deputy sheriff, where he
subsequently held several high-profile positions including: Detective
Commander, Director of the Police Academy, and Commander of the Northern
Police District; he was credited with founding the Sheriff's Office
Abused Persons Unit, and the Rape Prevention Program, prior to retiring
as Captain in 1986; and
WHEREAS, From 1986 to 1994, Kevin E. Walsh served as Director of
Public Safety at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry,
during which time he was elected to the Onondaga County Legislature
serving three terms, and as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee from
1990 to 1994; and
WHEREAS, Kevin E. Walsh was elected Onondaga County Sheriff in Novem-
ber 1994, and over the course of his career, oversaw many important
changes to the department including: the transition from the Public
Safety Building Jail to the state-of-the-art Onondaga County Justice
Center, educational programming for inmates, community policing, expan-
sion of the DARE program, and Sheriff bicycle patrols; and
WHEREAS, Kevin E. Walsh also founded the Air-1-Task Force, which led
to the replacement of an aging airship with a state-of-the-art helicop-
ter which provided valuable services in law enforcement, fire and emer-
gency services; and
WHEREAS, During his tenure as Onondaga County Sheriff, Kevin E. Walsh
oversaw many high profile investigations including: John Jamelske's
underground dungeon, the Stacy Castor murder case, the Jenni Lynn Watson
investigation, and the traffic stop taser incident in 2009; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, as an active member of the community, Kevin E.
Walsh has served as a volunteer at the Rape Crisis Center, American
Legion, Knights of Columbus, Onondaga Citizens League, St. Patrick's Day
Parade Committee, St. Rose of Lima Church, Vietnam Veterans of America,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, and as an adjunct faculty member at
Keuka Community College; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Kevin E. Walsh's numerous professional
affiliations have included the New York State Law Enforcement Training

Directors Association, E-911 Advisory Committee, the National Sheriff's
Association, and the Criminal Justice Advisory Board; and
WHEREAS, Kevin E. Walsh will officially retire on Wednesday, December
31, 2014, as Onondaga County's longest serving Sheriff, having served
five terms in the position; and
WHEREAS, Currently, Kevin E. Walsh resides in North Syracuse, New
York, with his wife, Joan, a former emergency room nurse, and the couple
has three adult children, Shannon, Kelly and Kevin; and
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that those dedi-
cated public servants, who unselfishly devote their lives to the preser-
vation of order and the protection of others, are worthy of praise for
their commitment and noble endeavors; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh upon the occasion of his retirement after
more than 20 years of distinguished service as Onondaga County Sheriff;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Sheriff Kevin E. Walsh.