A long-time Woodbury police officer and commander is being remembered as the best of the best.
Jay Alberio of Cottage Grove died Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the age of 66. He joined the Woodbury Police Department in 1986, was promoted to sergeant in 1989, and named commander of the investigations unit in 2003.
“He was one of the cornerstones of our organization,” Jason Posel, Woodbury Public Safety Director, said. “He was the best of the best related to investigations. He had a memory for people and events unlike anything I had seen before. He was tenacious on cases and victim-centric in his approach, making sure he was compassionate with victims of crimes.”
Posel said Alberio was a mentor to him and most of the police command staff. He also was influential beyond the city as a member of the Washington County Special Response Team.
After retiring in 2012, Alberio spent winters with his wife, Judy, in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. He also worked at the Eagle Valley Golf Course in Woodbury where he shared his passion for the sport.
In 2013, Alberio joined the FindJodi team as a volunteer dedicated to finding abducted Iowa news anchor Jodi Huisentruit. His work with the group continued until shortly before his death.
“His work ethic, determination, and friendship left a lasting mark on our organization,” Posel said. A celebration of his life will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m. at Five Oaks Church. His obituary can be found here.
