Shannon Ray was introduced as the village of Marcellus’ newest officer on Tuesday, Aug. 23, at the village office.
Ray joins the 13-member team with already a sense of familiarity and closeness. An officer at the Onondaga County Sheriff’s department, many of her colleagues also work within the village of Marcellus police department.
“I have lots of excitement,” Ray said, “I’m a very outgoing person. If I saw a bunch of kids walking down the street, I would stop and get out and talk to them. I just love people, I always have. I’m very honest and my integrity is huge.”
Chief of Police Bob Wicks knew Ray’s work ethic didn’t need to be questioned. He has observed first hand working alongside her at the sheriff’s department.
“She is self-motivated,” Wicks said, “You don’t have to tell her what to do. She is the type of person you want in an environment like this. She’s very outgoing and we want officers here that our community oriented and the policing type individuals.”
A Jordan-Elbridge graduate, Ray went onto Onondaga Community College and then to the Police Academy, receiving her New York state officer certification. From 1995-2006 she worked for the New York National Guard Counter Drug Office within the drug enforcement administration.
“Everybody that works here has come in has an A-type personality,” Wicks said. “In saying that, they are their own people they have their own opinion about things, but every one of them can work within a group collectively. That’s want you want. Shannon brings that element.”
Ray’s day-to-day responsibilities will include every aspect of police work from everything to felonies to barking dogs.
The village of Marcellus police department, according to Wicks, is hard to come by, an eclectic bunch of police officers that bring a multitude of experience to the village. Personnel include bomb techs, drug investigators and SWAT expertise.
“Residents should know that the experience and intelligence that they have in this village is far and away one of the most talented organizations in the county.”
