NEW HARTFORD – The Boilermaker Road Race is in its final stage of preparation, and this year The Firefighter-Police Officer Competition is in honor of one of their own.

At a press conference Friday, Boilermaker officials announced that the annual competition between Utica Police Officers and Firefighters will be in honor of police officer Thomas Lindsey, who was killed in the line of duty eleven weeks ago.

One of Lindsey’s friends, Officer Sean Dougherty, will wear badge number 4963, the badge once worn by Lindsey, in that race.

“Officer Lindsey served our city with tremendous distinction,” said Mayor Timothy Julian. “To echo the words of Police Chief C. Allen Pylman, he was one of our ‘steady Eddies.”

It’s a friendly competition between the police officers and firefighters, and both departments want to take home that trophy.

This is the third year for the race between the departments, and organizers say it’s important to keep Officer Lindsey’s memory alive…

“Everybody from both departments is going to be running in his honor,” said Frank Simonelli, of the Boilermaker. “The police officers are going to be running with a commemorative on the back of their singlets, and at the end of the race, we're going to present the fastest police officer with a plaque that will honor Thomas Lindsey's memory.”

Both the police chief and fire chide said they’re looking forward to the friendly competition, and they’re quick to joke around with each other about who will win the coveted trophy.

The team with the fastest five runners will be declared The Boilermaker Public Safety Champion of the city.

The trophy will be presented to the winning team at the post race party.
at the post race party.