Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks has ordered the flags at all county buildings to be flown at half-staff today in recognition of former longtime Sheriff Andy Meloni.
Meloni died at the age of 84 early Friday morning after a battle with cancer.
Brooks called him one of the most beloved public servants our community has ever known.
"When I think of Andy I think of the balance that he provided,” Brooks said. “He had just the right balance of toughness and compassion. He was obviously an amazing law and order sheriff, but he always had a big heart for the victims of crime."
Brooks recalls how deeply affected Sheriff Meloni was by the discovery of Kali Ann Poulton's body two years after her disappearance in 1994.
"And I remember being just glued to the television, watching this man stand there, showing such raw emotion but such strength at the same time for the community. You could tell it really, really touched him and I think everyone will associate the Kali Ann Poulton case with Andy in that particular way."
Rochester Business Alliance CEO Bob Duffy knew Meloni well personally and professionally, as Rochester’s former mayor and former police chief.
He, like many others, spoke about Meloni’s sense of humor.
"He could have probably pursued a career as a night club comedian, because he could have everyone in a room in laughs and he had that so many times. But beneath that surface - that funny, gregarious, happy-go-lucky person was a very serious-minded law enforcement leader who had great compassion for people," Duffy said.
Duffy called Meloni one of the greatest all-time law enforcement leaders of our region and one of the greatest human beings he has known.
