Members of the central Adirondack community gathered at the Old Forge Fire Hall on Saturday, January 3 to honor John Russell for his 35 years of service to the Town of Webb as a police officer and volunteer fire fighter.
Among those in attendance were Russell’s wife Nanci; children Jonathan, Elizabeth and Ben, hosts of the event; extended family; past Webb law enforcement colleagues Tim Klock, Larry Chrysler, Danny Appler, Marty Luppino, and Kate Dillon; fire department personnel; and scores of local folks who stopped by to wish John well in his retirement as chief of the Webb Police Department.
Speakers included daughter Elizabeth, who spoke of life as the child of a dedicated law enforcement officer; Gisele Kress; Herkimer County 911 Coordinator Bob Vandewalker; former Webb patrolman Marty Luppino; DEC Officer Russ Ritzel; and former Webb Supervisor Robert Moore.
A Town of Webb patrolman since October 1979, Russell was appointed police chief in June 2008. He retired on December 9, 2014.
He continues to serve as a volunteer with the Old Forge Fire Department. A lifelong member of department, he acted as chief for nine years.
