Mamaroneck Community Pays Respects to Sgt. Thomas Anderson of the Village Police Department

Described as calm with a “gentle spirit, on a job that tends to harden most,” the Mamaroneck community today mourned the loss of Sgt. Thomas “Tommy” Anderson, a 17-year veteran of the village police force, at .

Members of the Village of Mamaroneck police department along with Mayor Norm Rosenblum, Trustee Toni Pergola Ryan, Trustee John Hofstetter,Village Manager Richard Slingerland, Trustee Lou Santoro and many Department of Public Works (DPW) and Parking Enforcement employees lined the street in front of the church to pay their respects to the police sergeant who died on .  Students from the next door watched a motorcade with police officers from communities as near as Harrison and New Rochelle and as far as Stamford and Norwalk proceed slowly down Underhill Avenue.

In a funeral mass led by Monsignor James White, he spoke to Anderson’s parents, Paul and Patricia, about the pain of losing a child and coming to terms with a loss that defies the natural order of life. 

“I’m sure you know we are with you in your grief and sorrow,” he said, continuing, “We like to see God’s will wrapped in a little box…God’s ways are different from ours.”

Sgt. Regan Kelly of the addressed the many people crowded into the church to pay their respects to Anderson. 

“I would like to sincerely thank the Anderson family for allowing me to say a few words on behalf of our police department,” he said, continuing, “We have been touched by Tommy…his grace, his humanity, his calming presence.”

In describing the police department’s support in tragic times, Kelly told the story of a traveler visiting a kingdom in a distant land.  The traveler asked the king why there were no walls surrounding the village.  In short time, a trumpet sounded an alert, and the men and women of the kingdom formed a solid wall around the village, blocking it from invaders.

“That’s what is expected of you my fellow officers,” said Kelly.

“Lead from the front, lead from example, lead as Tommy did,” he said, continuing, his voice breaking at the end of his tribute, “Be strong, be yourself and all will be well.”

Following the mass, Anderson’s body was transported to Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla where he was laid to rest.