Ithaca, N.Y. — The Ithaca Police Department is mourning the death of Paul Townsend, a community service officer for the City of Ithaca Parking Division.
Townsend, who worked with the department beginning in 1994, was 59 when he died Sunday.
Townsend retired from the United States Air Force in 1994 and joined the parking division later that year, according to the department’s Facebook post.
“Paul was often seen towing a cart around town, emptying the loose change from the city parking meters,” Officer Jamie Williamson said on the department’s Facebook page.
“While Paul might not have been a man of many words, his infectious smile said more than enough about who he was and how he lived his life.”
“Paul was an excellent employee and an endearing member of the IPD family. May God bless your wonderful spirit.”