9th Annual Fallen Officers Memorial Ride to Honor Local Sergeant

The 9th Annual Fallen Officers Memorial Ride will be happening August 29th, this year honoring Detective Sergeant Randall French.

As Blue Friday is focused on law enforcement, of course he will be honored as Detective Sergeant Randall French of the Troy Police Department.  However Sergeant French's legacy goes far beyond police work, as a graduate of R.P.I. and an integral part of first responder services in the Capital Region.  In his career he worked with local emergency services through R.P.I., Empire, and most recently North Greenbush (through healthcare I had the pleasure of meeting him as a local nurse).  As a professional, he integrated the work of Emergency Medicine into law enforcement, and also helped to found the Troy Police Department Cadet Post 4102.  His End of Watch was April 30th, 2020 after a battle with COVID-19, but the impact Sergeant French had on local law enforcement, those who knew him, and local medical services remains.

He is one of sadly a large number of officers that have fallen in 2020, from COVID-19 to hazards faced in the line of duty.  According to the Fraternal Order of Police, as of August 10th, 195 officers have lost their battle with COVID-19, including Sergeant French.

In a current climate where part of society has seemed to turn away from the first responders and police who help to serve their communities, events like the Fallen Officers Memorial Ride serve to remind us exactly of their bravery.  The event information is listed at the Blue Friday New York facebook page, and will include a 75 mile ride and a gathering at the Police Memorial in Albany on August 29th.

To learn more about the life of Sergeant French, you can watch a memorial tribute here.