In Memoriam - Sheriff Gerald F. Washburn
(1941-2005)
Gerald F. Washburn, age 63, Oneida County Sheriff from 1990 to 1994, passed
away on Wednesday, March 9, 2005, after a long and courageous battle with
cancer.
Jerry Washburn was born July 20, 1941 in Rome, New York, son of Leo and Celeste
Haley Washburn. He attended Rome parochial schools and later served as a
military policeman with the United States Army in New York City and Korea. He
began his law enforcement career in 1964 as a Police Officer with the City of
Rome, New York, where he specialized in traffic accident investigation and
narcotics enforcement.
Patrolman Washburn served as President of the Philip S. McDonald Police
Benevolent Association; a position he held for 12 consecutive terms, and he was
active in many local, state and national Police Associations. He served as
President of the Northeast Police Conference and 2nd Vice President of the
Police Conference of New York. Upon his retirement from the Rome Police
Department in 1986, he served as Director of Legislative Services and Vice
President – Membership Development and Labor Relations for the New York State
Federation of Police.
He was elected to the Office of Oneida County Sheriff in 1990 and served one
four-year term.
Sheriff Washburn is survived by his wife, Fran Taverna, two sons, three
daughters and three stepchildren. He also leaves a brother and sister.