Standing-room-only crowd cheers patrolman’s promotion to sergeant
YARDLEY BOROUGH – A standing-room-only crowd was on hand at the Yardley Borough Council meeting on Jan. 3 to witQHVV SROLFH SDWUROPDQ fiUVW FODVV William Golden promoted to sergeant.
Yardley Borough Police Chief Jim O’Neill gave a personalized speech and pinned his own sergeant’s badge that he wore for 12 years on Golden.
O’Neill also gave Golden his gold tie clip, which has the words, “Yardley Pennsylvania,” inscribed on it.
“In February 1986 -- standing right about where we are right now, Mayor [Ed] Robinson pinned this badge on my chest, promoting me to sergeant of the Yardley Borough Police Department,” O’Neill said.
The police chief said, “It was probably the proudest day of my life.”
O’Neill remarked that it was “a happy day” for him to be able to do this for Golden because of “the care, the dedication and concern” that Golden has shared for his felORw RIfiFHUV DQG WhH HQWLUH WRwQ.
“I didn’t think a little me would come along.” O’Neill said, drawing laughter from the crowd. “Those of you who know me - you know I love my town and I love our people. That’s why I never had a desire to go anywhere else or be anywhere else.”
O’Neill said he relates to Golden.
“I know how you feel,” he said. “You gave up your own time without putting a time sheet in.”
Golden was reserved as he accepted the badge and clip.
“As a man, I can only remember a few proud moments in my life,” he told council members and the assembly of his friends and relatives. “It has been an honor since I started here and I walked through these doors and the chief and the mayor gave me a part-time job about 7 1/2 years ago.”
Golden went on to praise the town he serves.
“No words could describe how much of an honor and privilege it is to serve Yardley Borough,” the new sergeant said. “I love this town as if it’s my town -- like I live here. I love the men I work with. I barely even go to Wawa without having a conversation. I feel like a celebrity when I walk around town.” Wawa is located next to borough hall on South Main Street.
Council president Joe Hunter congratulated Golden during the meeting.
“That promotion is really deserved,” he said. “He has been DQ H[HPSODUy RIfiFHU hHUH VHUYLQJ the borough since day one.”
Hunter said that everyone who knows Golden loves him, then relayed a story which, he said, H[HPSOLfiHV WhH PDQ DQG RIfiFHU Golden is.
“DuULQJ RQH RI WhH flRRGV, :LOO was always there working extra hours,” Hunter said. “And he was out on River Road moving the debris off of the road.”
Hunter continued the story, adding that during his work Golden was bit by a snake and worked right through it.
“If it happened to me I would have had a stroke!” Hunter said.
Among the audience members wDV GROGHQ’V fiDQFp, .yOH YDnoff, who sat with pride as her husband-to-be received his promotion.
“,W IHHOV UHDOOy JRRG,” VDLG .yOH Yanoff. “It’s very exciting. He possesses common respect and people skills that it takes to be in a supervisory role.”
Golden served in Iraq as a priYDWH fiUVW FODVV LQ WhH 8.6. $UPy Calvary.