By James Sheridan
Campus Police Sergeant William P. Kelley III died late last Sunday, Nov. 2 at the age of 60.
FSU Police Chief Brad Medeiros said he believes “Sarge,” as he was known to co-workers and campus community members, died at home from natural causes.
“He was a cop’s cop,” said Medeiros, “a true professional.”
Before starting at FSU “around ’92 or so,” Medeiros said Kelley worked for the Conrail railroad police as well as the Sherborn PD.
Medeiros said Kelley “wore many hats” in the department. He was the overnight shift supervisor, the officer designated to represent the department in district court and was also certified as a sexual assault investigator.
He added Kelley always had the community’s best interest in mind and was a valuable part of the department. “The tutelage and training he was able to give to the younger officers is something that will stay with them for the rest of their careers.
“We are part of a small department so we are like family,” Medeiros said, “everybody in the department is grieving, ... I worked with him for 22 years, it is like losing a family member.”
The family invited friends and family to call on Wednesday, Nov. 5, Medeiros said there was a large contingency of support for Kelley’s survivors from the Framingham Police Department that day.
“He was a kind person who went out of his way to help people out,” said Medeiros.
According to an email sent from Susanne H. Conley, vice president for enrolment and student
development, “He was a dedicated police officer committed to the success of the students he met in the course of his work; he was also a wonderful colleague and friend to faculty and staff across campus.”
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy A. Kelley; his daughter Diane Halpin and her husband Michael, his daughter Sheila Luciano and her husband Christopher; his grandchildren Blake William and Joseph Anthony Luciano; his siblings Christine Kadey and her husband Neil, Katherine Kelley, Adelle Kelley andcher husband Walter and Cynthia Burns and her husband David as well as his uncles, aunts, nieces and
nephews.