Obituary for Lawrence G. Mermell
Lawrence G. Mermell, a retired NYS Trooper, died Thursday, February 16, 2006 at O.R.M.C., Horton Campus in Middletown, N.Y. He was 74.
The son of the late Milton S. and Millicent Kinne Mermell, he was born October 15, 1931 in Middletown.
A lifetime resident of the area, he was a 1950 graduate of MHS, and a 1953 graduate of the New York State Police Academy. In 1962, Larry became an instructor for the NYS Police Academy in the field of Narcotics, Surveillance, Homicide, Forgery, Larceny and Burglary. He instructed there until 1970.
He also worked as an instructor for the Federal Bureau of Narcotic training seminars and at local municipal police training academies. He conducted many public speaking and panel discussions throughout the state from 1962-1970.
He began his career with the NYS Police in 1952 as a uniform Trooper. Larry rose quickly through the ranks to be promoted to Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit in 1956 and was appointed Corporal of the BCI unit and was placed in charge of the Middletown area in 1960. Within a two year period, Larry was promoted to the rank of Permanent Sergeant in the uniform unit, and then Senior Investigator for the BCI unit in Monroe. On February 21, 1968, he was appointed by Gov. Rockefeller to the Narcotics Division of the State Bureau of Criminal Investigation. His other appointments between 1966 and 1969 included: Uniform Lieutenant in Monroe; acting Uniform Captain for Troop K in Hawthorne; a temporary duty status for the Governor's office in a statewide narcotics investigation; BCI Lieutenant in charge of statewide Narcotics investigations; the rank of Captain (SUI), supervising all undercover operations for Narcotics and all organized crime; finally, he created the Organized Crime Task Force and worked as a liaison with the Governor's office. In 1971, Larry was promoted to Inspector and one year later, Major at Troop C in Sidney, N.Y. He retired in October of 1972, and worked as a licensed Private Investigator until 1975. From 1975 to 1981 and 1985 to 1995, Larry was employed as Chief Investigator for the Orange County District Attorney's Office in Goshen, N.Y.
He was a member of the Elks Club; the Knights of Columbus; and the McQuoid Fire Co. Larry also belonged to CSEA, the NYS Trooper Association; BCI Investigators Association, and the Association of Retired Troopers.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ann, at home; his children: Debra Causa and her husband, Michael, of Middletown, Lawrence J. Mermell and his wife, Joanne, of Pine Bush, and Anne Marie Lorusso and her husband, James, of Sterling, Va.; and six grandchildren: Jessica and her husband, Bill, Michael Ryan, Matthew Causa, Lindsay, Samantha, and Austin Mermell.
Larry was predeceased by his stepfather, E. Joseph Shields in 1980.
A family statement reads: "Larry was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He was a disciplined, professional man who loved his job. He believed and trusted in the law. Our family knows that our community is a better place because of his efforts in law enforcement."
Friends may call on Monday, February 20 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 130 Highland Ave., Middletown, N.Y.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 90 Euclid Ave., Middletown, on Tuesday, February 21 at 11 a.m., with burial to follow at the family plot in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Cottage Street, Middletown.
Arrangements are under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc
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The son of the late Milton S. and Millicent Kinne Mermell, he was born October 15, 1931 in Middletown.
A lifetime resident of the area, he was a 1950 graduate of MHS, and a 1953 graduate of the New York State Police Academy. In 1962, Larry became an instructor for the NYS Police Academy in the field of Narcotics, Surveillance, Homicide, Forgery, Larceny and Burglary. He instructed there until 1970.
He also worked as an instructor for the Federal Bureau of Narcotic training seminars and at local municipal police training academies. He conducted many public speaking and panel discussions throughout the state from 1962-1970.
He began his career with the NYS Police in 1952 as a uniform Trooper. Larry rose quickly through the ranks to be promoted to Bureau of Criminal Investigation Unit in 1956 and was appointed Corporal of the BCI unit and was placed in charge of the Middletown area in 1960. Within a two year period, Larry was promoted to the rank of Permanent Sergeant in the uniform unit, and then Senior Investigator for the BCI unit in Monroe. On February 21, 1968, he was appointed by Gov. Rockefeller to the Narcotics Division of the State Bureau of Criminal Investigation. His other appointments between 1966 and 1969 included: Uniform Lieutenant in Monroe; acting Uniform Captain for Troop K in Hawthorne; a temporary duty status for the Governor's office in a statewide narcotics investigation; BCI Lieutenant in charge of statewide Narcotics investigations; the rank of Captain (SUI), supervising all undercover operations for Narcotics and all organized crime; finally, he created the Organized Crime Task Force and worked as a liaison with the Governor's office. In 1971, Larry was promoted to Inspector and one year later, Major at Troop C in Sidney, N.Y. He retired in October of 1972, and worked as a licensed Private Investigator until 1975. From 1975 to 1981 and 1985 to 1995, Larry was employed as Chief Investigator for the Orange County District Attorney's Office in Goshen, N.Y.
He was a member of the Elks Club; the Knights of Columbus; and the McQuoid Fire Co. Larry also belonged to CSEA, the NYS Trooper Association; BCI Investigators Association, and the Association of Retired Troopers.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ann, at home; his children: Debra Causa and her husband, Michael, of Middletown, Lawrence J. Mermell and his wife, Joanne, of Pine Bush, and Anne Marie Lorusso and her husband, James, of Sterling, Va.; and six grandchildren: Jessica and her husband, Bill, Michael Ryan, Matthew Causa, Lindsay, Samantha, and Austin Mermell.
Larry was predeceased by his stepfather, E. Joseph Shields in 1980.
A family statement reads: "Larry was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather. He was a disciplined, professional man who loved his job. He believed and trusted in the law. Our family knows that our community is a better place because of his efforts in law enforcement."
Friends may call on Monday, February 20 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at the Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc., 130 Highland Ave., Middletown, N.Y.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, 90 Euclid Ave., Middletown, on Tuesday, February 21 at 11 a.m., with burial to follow at the family plot in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Cottage Street, Middletown.
Arrangements are under the direction of Applebee-McPhillips Funeral Home, Inc
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