Former Saugus cop remembered for service to others

SAUGUS – Former Police Officer Albert William “Bill” Diotte, who passed away on Nov. 12 at the age of 70, was remembered as a man who rose above the call of duty in and out of the department.”He was a wonderful, compassionate individual,” said Town Meeting member Eugene Decareau. “He was there for anybody and everybody.”Decareau remembered his days with Diotte at the Saugus Lions Club. He said that each year, Diotte always made the effort to gather used eyeglasses and send them to the less fortunate in foreign countries as part of the club’s ongoing eye-research campaign.Decareau said Diotte ran the town’s Christmas parade for a number of years and would throw excessive amounts of candy into the crowd.He said Diotte’s wife, Shirley, even threw candy into the casket during Diotte’s services last weekend. Diotte also had two daughters, Anmarie Griffin of Lynn and Susanne Kimball of Wakefield.”The first thing in Billy’s life was his family,” said Saugus Police Officer Timothy Fawcett, who worked with Diotte for 17 years.Although family was Diotte’s first priority, Fawcett said his constant willingness to help others was a close second.”If you had a hole in your roof at 3 a.m., he would come and help,” said Fawcett. “I mean it when I say he was a true policeman 24/7.”Fawcett recalled Diotte’s giving his time working Sunday bingo at Blessed Sacrament Church.”Billy always did for others,” he said. “I hope they build a statue of him in the town square.”Diotte worked as a Saugus policeman from 1966 to 2000. Tragedy struck in 1969 when his close friend, Officer Augustine Belmonte, was shot and killed in an armed robbery at the Red Coach Grill on Route 1. Belmonte would have been the best man at Diotte’s wedding eight months later.Although Diotte considered leaving the department, his wife convinced him to stay, telling him Belmonte would not want him to resign.With a passion for cars, Diotte was the department’s mechanic in his later years.”He could fix anything,” said Fawcett.In addition to his 1955 Ford Crown Victoria fitted with a 1957 engine, Diotte also owned a 1964 Dodge Dart, a 1926 Ford Model T and a 1930 Ford Model A.State Rep. Donald Wong said he will never forget the countless times that he and Diotte would get together for coffee before work. He said it was “a great way to start a day that will be missed by me.”Wong said Diotte would always make himself known at social gatherings as well.”His laughter always filled the room,” said Wong. “Another great family man that has touched so many lives.”