Garden City Special Police Take The Oath

Three members of Garden City's Special Police force took their oaths of office Thursday during ceremonies at village hall.

Trustee Andrew Cavanaugh, appointed police commissioner, administered the oath of office to Special Police Captain David B. Carpentier, Lt. John Koch and Sergeant Thomas Imperatore.

Captain Carpentier, a 32-year resident of the village and a 19-year member of the force, came up through the ranks as patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant and captain. "Now his leadership is continuing with this term, quite an accomplishment and a real indication of his dedication to the village and its residents," Cavanaugh said.

Lt. Koch has lived in Garden City since 1987 and has been a nine-year member of the Special Police, also coming up through the ranks as a patrol officer, sergeant and now lieutenant. He has also worked with the Garden City Fire Department and the Mineola Ambulance Corps. Lt. Koch, his wife and three children are all community volunteers, something Cavanaugh says is "indicative of the kind of spirit this force engenders."

Sergeant Imperatore, a 12-year village resident and three-year member of the force, also took his oath Thursday. He is a martial arts instructor in Oceanside. Cavanaugh hoped he'd never have to use his expertise on the job, joking, "you never know."

All three gentlemen are recipients of the American Legion's prestigious Law & Order Award.

"I don't think the contributions of the special police are particularly well known or particularly well understood but I can tell you that any time you go to an event, and I'm sure the commissioner will bear me out on this, it is these gentlemen and their colleagues in a very small but very effective force who are lending their capability and extending the operational efficiency of our police department and is something we should really take note of as we will this evening," Cavanaugh said.

Garden City Special Police assist the regular police on a needed basis and are ordered to report by the commissioner of Garden City Police Department. Officers are residents who volunteer their time to serve the community, assisting with special patrol duty and pedestrian and traffic control at religious services and at community events like Homecoming, the annual holiday tree lighting and Turkey Trot held every Thanksgiving.

"Augmenting the special police force would be a great way to get involved in community service because it really is an important service to us that should be better publicized and bigger," Cavanaugh said.

The force is celebrating 61 years of service and is always looking for volunteers; both men and woman at least 21 years of age who reside in the village are welcome. Call the Garden City Police Department at 465-4100 if interested.