HUDSON — Hundreds of law enforcement officers, family member and friends paid their last respects on Friday for Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy Bernard Allen Roberts, who died earlier this week. Roberts was 52.
The funeral, with full honors for Roberts, took place at 11 a.m., at the Sacco Funeral Home on Town Hall Drive in Greenport.
The funeral procession, which was led by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office motorcycle color guard, left the funeral home and drove to the sheriff’s office on Industrial Tract, where they stopped so Roberts could receive his final call.
The units passed under a large American flag that was displayed from the Greenport Fire Department ladder truck.
The procession continued back on Route 66 and over Paul Avenue to the Cedar Park Cemetery, where Roberts was laid to rest.
Mourners at the burial service paid their last respects under several tents that were erected in advance due to the wind-driven heavy rain that came down during the ceremony.
Dozens of police cars and about 50 private vehicles that had been part of the procession lined many of the narrow roads running through the cemetery.
Parts of numerous roads and streets in Greenport and Hudson were closed for the funeral procession, including Route 66, Healy Boulevard, Green Street, Paul Avenue and Columbia Turnpike.
Greenport Police, state police, Hudson Police and Hudson Fire Police provided traffic control.
Roberts was found dead by first responders on Sunday morning at about 11:50 a.m., when they were called to his home in Rensselaer, according to the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of his death has not been released.
Roberts was an 18-year veteran of the sheriff’s office. He joined the force on July 21, 2003.
Roberts was born Aug. 23, 1969, at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Hudson.
After high school he served in the U.S Marine Corps. Roberts then began his career with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office.
Roberts leaves behind his wife Fulgencia (Safran) Roberts, two sons, Jayden and Tristin, and four daughters, Tristina, Adriana, Niya and Hillary.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.