NORWICH – The entire Norwich City Police Department turned out in full dress uniform Monday to honor Chenango County Court Judge W. Howard Sullivan for his many years of service to the county and its communities, presenting Sullivan – who will retire at year’s end – with a special plaque in recognition of his commitment to justice.

“We thank Judge Sullivan for his years and years of service to the community,” said Norwich City Police Chief Joseph Angelino in a prepared statement. “Not only in his pursuit of justice in a court room, but also for his years of volunteer service to the community.”

According to Angelino, the sheer number of organizations, boards and agencies that Sullivan has chaired or participated in are “too numerous to mention individually,” but all have one thing in common: making life better for those who live in Norwich and Chenango County. As an aside, he thanked the judge for his “many early morning deliveries of fresh bread” to the police station.

“Some may think it is odd or inappropriate for a law enforcement agency to show this partiality to a judge, but we could not allow the retirement of this fine man go past without a formal thank you,” added Angelino. “I assure all present that Judge Sullivan never showed favoritism to the Norwich Police. We appreciate his firm fairness in all manner of court business. In the past, the Norwich Police, including me personally, have taken some licks from the bench of Judge Sullivan, but he always delivered his admonishments in such a way to make the Norwich Police a better law enforcement agency.”

The plaque, emblazoned with the shields worn by chiefs, deputy chiefs, sergeants and officers of the past with the Norwich PD, was then presented to Judge Sullivan. A second plaque, offered by Norwich Police Officer Reuben Roach and other officers of Irish descent, was also presented, in recognition of Judge Sullivan’s Irish heritage.