County Honors West Hempstead Auxiliary Police Officers

Eleven West Hempstead residents were among those honored Thursday night as Nassau County paid tribute to its auxiliary police officers.

Of the 109 officers honored at Police Headquarter on April 7, more than 10 percent were members of Unit 116 of the Nassau County Auxiliary Police. This unit patrols West Hempstead, Lakeview, parts of Malverne and surrounding neighborhoods, assists at parades and the Long Island Marathon, and is on call for emergencies and disasters.

"We have a large, very active unit," said Inspector Neal Rosenblatt, commander of Unit 116, and chairman of the Auxiliary Police Executive Board. "We put in more than 6,000 hours last year."

Nine members of Unit 116 were honored for volunteering 300 hours in 2010, including Lt. James Burgess, Sgt. Thomas Mallon, Private First Class Joseph Rupert, and auxiliary police officers Anthony Squiciarino, Donald Longo, Garly Jean, Glea James, John Allen and Paraxedes Russi.

James works as a family counselor while Allen is a public safety officer for the Town of Hempstead. They joined two and three years ago, respectively, and both said their calling goes beyond a logical extension of their careers.

"We're just looking for a way to give back," said Allen.

The officers must undergo instruction in law, and training in areas like first aid and self defense. James, along with his fellow officers, were thankful to their families, who they say had never expressed concern about their joining.

"Our families are very supportive," said James. 

Rosenblatt and PFC Jonathan Roddin were honored for 500 hours of service.
Roddin also received his certificate for 10 years of service before being promoted to sergeant.

"I had always been involved in the community," said Roddin, who works as a bus driver for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. "When I got too old for things like high school groups I was looking for some other way to stay involved. I had always seen the auxiliary police at parades and other functions."

Nassau dignitaries on hand included County Executive Edward Mangano, who made a point of thanking the hundreds of family members present. Deputy Chief and Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said the Auxiliary forces have always been valuable, but probably never more so than in tough fiscal times.

"They are our eyes and ears," Krumpter said. "I can't count the number of times auxiliary patrols have called in and led to faster response time to crime or a disturbance call. And even the uniform can have a calming effect. Sometimes people who might want to commit a crime see an auxiliary officer and decide to not bother."

He also said they help stretch thinned out personnel and budget numbers.

"We have been reduced, 325 officers in the last 18 months," Krumpter said. "Our core level is at the lowest it's been since 1965. It would be very difficult to do things without the auxiliaries. They gave over 70,000 hours of volunteer time to their County last year."