Rev. Salerno: Lindsey verdict brings closure

When Wesley Molina-Cirino was found guilty Thursday night of shooting Officer Thomas Lindsey, it was an important step toward closure for the Utica Police Department, the Rev. Joseph Salerno said on Holy Friday.

Salerno presided over Lindsey's funeral Mass and eulogized the slain officer. He is chaplain for the Utica police and fire departments.

"Obviously Tom doesn't come back to us, but it's extremely helpful to everyone on the department to know that the man accused of this crime has been convicted of it, and he will spend the rest of his life behind bars," said Salerno, pastor of the

Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in South Utica.

Because of Christian Holy Week, Salerno said unfortunately he has not been able to spend much time with members of the department during Molina-Cirino's trial. The sorrow that exists because of Lindsey's death is very real for many police and community members, he said.

"I believe that ever since Tom's death last April, the whole department has been grieving," Salerno said. "But each individual member of the department has been grieving in a different way. I think having brought someone to trial - that trial now being over and there being a verdict of guilty - is part of the process of bringing this difficult time for all of us to closure."

Nearly 100 people gathered late Thursday night at Lindsey's gravesite at Cavalry Cemetery following the verdict in Oneida County Court. Salerno said he couldn't speak for those who went, but the bond between officers is strong, and when there is a death in the line of duty, it's even stronger.

"Maybe they just needed to go to Tom's grave and say 'We did the best we could for you. We believe we caught your killer and brought him to justice for you,'" Salerno said.

Observer-Dispatch