Former Ulster County sheriff Michael LaPaglia died Monday at age 85. He had a four-decade career in law enforcement. A retired New York City detective, LaPaglia was sheriff from 1987 until 1998.
LaPaglia moved to Ulster County after vacationing here for many years. In 1976, LaPaglia headed the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division and was promoted to lieutenant and then captain. He became administrative chief of the Shandaken constabulary in 1981. LaPaglia, a former captain in the sheriff’s department, was a Shandaken Republican town councilman when he defeated Ulster County sheriff Kenneth W. Post, a Democrat, in the 1986 election.
LaPaglia lived in the Greene County town of Greenville at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife Carol.
His cremation was scheduled for Greenville, and a memorial service may be held at a later date.
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