After 37 years of service, New Windsor Deputy Police Chief Michael C. Farbent made his final walkout from the department, joined by his family, friends, and fellow officers.

Farbent first joined the department in June of 1985. For his final day, Farbent was joined by his wife Laura, children Michael Farbent Jr., Nicole Farbent,Samantha Monahan, and their families and children. Police Chief Robert Doss, Town Supervisor George Meyers, fellow officers and members of the department and town staff all joined and gathered together to celebrate Farbent on his retirement.

Supervisor Meyers first began the ceremony by sharing several words on Farbent’s service and commitment to the town and handed him a certificate of retirement on behalf of the town board. “You have left this department in better shape than you found it,” Meyers said. “I want to thank you for a job well done.”

Chief Doss followed Meyers and thanked Farbent for his many years of service to the town and was glad to have him as a colleague, counselor, mentor and friend.

According to Doss, Farbent is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation [FBI] National Academy. During his time with the New Windsor department, Farbent has held the ranks of sergeant, lieutenant and deputy chief.

Farbent became the second deputy police chief in the department’s history in August 2018 and worked as a K-9 handler for seven years. Farbent also served as Police Academy Director of the Orange County Police Chiefs Association’s Police Academy for one year.

Farbent was also awarded in 1999 Officer of the Year for his work in apprehending two suspects in an armed robbery at Cowan’s Jewelers.

Farbent then approached the front of the room and thanked his parents, his wife and his children for their support over the years and thanked his fellow officers for their service and for the many years working together.

Making their way out into the parking lot, a call went out over the radio, recognizing and thanking Farbent for his service. Farbent saluted his fellow officers and took one last ride around the station concluding the ceremony.

“My husband has served the Town of New Windsor for 37 years with integrity and fidelity. He is a man of honor. He is a man who believes if you break the small rules, before you know it, you’ll be breaking the big rules and he’s always said ‘never break even the small rules’,” Laura said. “He’s always said that the department is never bigger than just one man. It’s the men that have come before that have laid down the policies and put those policies into effect that has made this department what it is”.

“He never brought work home, he separated it completely. When he came home, he was dad,” Nicole said. “We are just so proud of him and love him so much.”

“I’m proud of him. I hope he enjoys his retirement and I love him,” Michael Jr. said. “Integrity and honesty is the utmost important to him,” Samantha said. “We’re proud of him and I hope he’s ready to spend a lot of time with his grandkids.”