Updated 01/09/2009 05:53 AM
An honor for a fallen recruit
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- Sixty recruits took their final steps before officially becoming officers.
Tradition. Starched uniforms and smiles. And a bit of relief.
But there was also a sense that someone was missing. The class could have been 61.
"Mike wanted to be a police officer all his life," said Albany County Sheriff James Campbell. "And he finally had the opportunity."
Mike Fennelly, 21, had a history of seizures. But his doctor cleared him to go for his dream. By June, the only thing standing in his way was a mile and a half run he needed to complete before entering the academy. At the track that day, he met fellow recruit Robert Willey.
"Same PT outfit doing a PT test," said Willey. "We were on our final lap. Mike happened to fall down. I didn't know if he was having an asthma attack or cramping up. We rolled him over and realized something was really wrong with him and CPR needed to be started right away."
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"They had not received any training for that when they did this," said Campbell. "They did what a veteran police officer would do."
Willey may not be a veteran police officer yet, but he is a veteran.
"Yes, I was a medic in the military," said Willey. "We did everything we could to keep Michael with us."
Fennelly never regained consciousness.
"I was heartbroken," Willey said. "It's been my lifelong goal to be a deputy. I know he was on the same track. My heart goes out to his family."
We spoke to Fennelly's mother before the ceremony. She says after getting through the holidays without her son, going to the ceremony would be too much to bear.
"I can understand why they weren't here today because here would be an empty chair sitting there," said Campbell.
"Our whole class wanted to do something special for him," said Willey.
And so, at their request, one more diploma was given out.
"Figured this would be the best way to recognize his efforts," said Willey.
"I'm sure his family will cherish that," said Campbell.
"I want them to know that he wasn't alone that day," said Willey. "He was with us."
And now, he'll always be a part of this graduating class.