Peekskill Community Mourns Death of Police Officer Gregory Jones

The Peekskill community is mourning the death of beloved city Police Officer Gregory Jones, who passed away unexpectedly November 24. He was 48.

Jones, a 24-year veteran of the Peekskill Police Department, was a school resource officer, D.A.R.E. instructor and member of the Community Policing Unit well-known for his infectious smile and passion for helping others.

“This is by far the most difficult news we have ever had to deliver,” the Peekskill Police Department stated in a Facebook post. “Above and beyond all, Greg Jones was a great friend who had a gift for putting a smile on your face and lifting your spirits.”

Jones was born June 30, 1974, in Middletown, NY to Joanne and Gary Jones. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from St. Thomas Aquinas. He began his law enforcement career at Orange County Sheriff’s Office working in the Mount Hope and Washingtonville Police Departments, before transferring to the Peekskill Police Department.

In Peekskill, he was known as “Jonzee.” Working with the youth was one of his focuses and biggest accomplishments, teaching D.A.R.E. to students in Peekskill and Hendrick Hudson. “He truly loved every single one of his students,” his obituary stated.

Jones was also very involved with the Peekskill Fire Department, where he spent time with them on emergency scenes and community events. A common joke was that Jones was an “honorary” PFD-Local 2343 member.

“Officer Jones was loved and will forever be remembered for giving a warm smile, providing a helping hand, and empowering our Peekskill youth in many ways,” Peekskill City Manager Matthew Alexander and the Common Council said in a joint statement. “We send love and light to his family, children, friends, and everyone whose lives were touched by Officer Jones. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Jones family, and hope they find comfort in knowing that the City of Peekskill is grieving with them.”

The Peekskill Volunteer Ambulance Corps and Peekskill Walks also offered their condolences.

“Officer Jones was such a great advocate for our students and so supportive of efforts to make sure everyone makes it to school and home safely every day,” Peekskill Walks stated. “Peekskill has lost an outstanding officer and person, and will miss seeing Officer Jones at community events, in our schools and around our city.”

According to his obituary, Jones had three beautiful children from his first marriage, Matthew Jones, 24, Christopher Jones, 21, and Rachel Jones, 18. Later on in his life, he met Mary Greenan, a fellow City of Peekskill Police officer. They fell in love and had three wonderful children, Catherine Greenan-Jones, 7, Gregory Greenan-Jones, 3, and Colette Greenan-Jones, 1.

In addition to his children and Mary, Jones is survived by his mother, Joanne Jones, aunts, uncles, and cousins; many in-laws, nieces and nephews from the Greenan family, and his brothers and sisters from the Peekskill Police Department and the Peekskill Fire Department.

“Above all his amazing qualities, Greg was first and foremost a family man. He would do anything for his children and family,” his obituary stated. “He coached a range of sports teams when Matt and Chris were little and enjoyed playing catch with his oldest daughter Rachel. Greg was very proud of the people that Matt, Chris, and Rachel had become. This included Matt joining the Air Force and his many accomplishments, Chris becoming a mature, kind, and hardworking son, whom Greg admired, and Rachel, starting college this year towards a nursing degree, and for her sweetness and intelligence.”

“Greg always found ways to show his devotion to Mary and deep love for his children. He was a deeply loving father to Catherine, Gregory, and their youngest, Collette. Catherine and her dad were early risers. She loved their morning snuggles on the couch; riding her scooter and going to Bounce with her dad. Little Gregory’s favorite thing to do with his dad was to ride on his tractor with him, doing big boy work in the yard and riding his ATV together. Nothing brought a bigger smile to his face than when Greg would pick him up from school and give him hugs. Colette loved her late morning naps with her dad; she would always fall right asleep on him and felt so content in his arms. Their loss is incalculable.”

Visitation will be held at Joseph F. Nardone Funeral Home; 414 Washington Street, in Peekskill, on Wednesday, November 30, from 3 to 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at the Church of the Assumption on Thursday, December 1, at 11:30 a.m.

“Greg would not want us to dwell in sadness or “what-ifs.” Let us remember Greg for his selflessness, his willingness to help others in any way, his infectious smile and humor, and his deep love for his family,” his obituary read. “Greg “Jonzee” Jones will be deeply missed by all who knew him. It is our hope that his smile finds its way to your face when you think of him, and any sadness is turned into good deeds. It is the best way we can honor him and show gratitude for having known him.”

Memorial Donations can be made to a GoFundMe page created to benefit his three youngest children.

Rick Pezzullo

Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/