Garden City PD Commissioner Receives Appreciation Ahead Of Retirement

GARDEN CITY, NY — The Garden City Police Commissioner Kenneth Jackson will be retiring as Police Commissioner of the Garden City Police Department at the end of the month, and was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation by the Garden City Library Board of Trustees on Monday.

He served 44 years in law enforcement, starting his career as a patrol officer with the NYC Transit Police Department before joining the GCPD in June 1985. He became Commissioner in 2012 and has also served for about 20 years as the second Vice-Chair of the Nassau County Traffic Safety Board. Jackson also serves as the Executive Director of the Nassau County Municipal Police Chiefs Association, and previously was their President.

The Incorporated Village of Garden City shared their gratitude for Jackson on their website: "While he will be greatly missed, his legacy of professionalism and commitment to safety will continue to inspire the Department and community alike."

They are not the only ones, as the Garden City Library shared their appreciation for his years of dedicated service. The Library shared that GCPD has provided the Library Board and Administration with recommendations for security improvements over the years, many of which have been implemented. Some of these include upgrading security cameras, automatic security doors, full-time security personnel, and more.

Jackson himself has helped the library, including by helping design the library's children's room renovation, as well as consulting on daily security and safety matters.

Library Board Chair Colleen Foley, on behalf of the Board, presented Jackson with the citation.

Part of the citation stated: "In over 40 years with the Garden City Police Department, most recently 2012 to 2026 as the Police Commissioner, the Library benefited greatly through your commitment and dedication.”

Foley spoke highly of Jackson, sharing that the Library Board wishes him the best in his next phase of life.

"The Commissioner has been extremely supportive and has had a profound effect on the security and safety of the library," she said.

Library Director Marianne Malagon added, "I will always appreciate how available he was to answer any question or concern we had."

Operations Director Courtney Rutt Rosenblatt shared kind words about the Commissioner.

"As a colleague, the Commissioner has always been a valuable resource—a confident, staunch ally who consistently guides our team through any situation," she said. "As a community member, I see the Commissioner as one of the main reasons our Village is what it is today: a modern-day Mayberry!"

The GCPD shared that there will be a formal 'walk-out' retirement ceremony that will take place the day before his retirement begins, on Jan. 30 at noon at the GCPD Headquarters.