By Nathan Mayberg
LIBERTY — October 26, 2004 – State Trooper Sergeant Jeffry Edelson was immortalized with a memorial in front of the State Trooper’s barracks in Liberty on Friday.
In front of about 200 fellow troopers, the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Department, friends, family and other community members on Friday, Edelson was remembered for his deeds and achievements in the months and years before he died after losing control of his car during pursuit of a vehicle last November.
Several fellow troopers and community members spoke highly of the late trooper, who was regarded as a man with a good heart.
Edelson’s former zone commander, Patrick Regan, described him as a gentleman who “always thought about the positive of everything.”
“He had a very positive outlook on Liberty,” said Regan.
He shared a light moment, recalling Edelson’s knack for retaining extra procurement supplies.
“He would always take care of you,” he remarked.
Sergeant Wayne Bennett, Superintendent of the New York State Police, characterized Edelson as “a genuine hero.”
Barry Cooperstein, EMS coordinator for the Town of Liberty Volunteer Ambulance Corps, stated that his group donated money for trees to be planted in Israel in honor of Edelson, who was Jewish. Cooperstein said he became friends with Edelson over the six years they worked together in response to emergency calls.
Cooperstein then presented Edelson’s family and Zone 1 Commander James Boylan with a plaque signifying the planting of the trees.
Sullivan County Coordinator of Emergency Services Richard Martinkovic talked fondly of his memories of Edelson showing up at his house late at night to discuss strategies for handling one emergency or the other. Martinkovic, along with the Town of Liberty Board, presented a plaque in Edelson’s memory to Edelson’s family.
The memorial at the Liberty barracks was erected by Edelson’s fellow troopers, using their own time and effort.