Suffolk police chief deputy makes $309,000 in salary, pension

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart as Deputy Chief of detectives Robert Oswald, left, and James Skopek 1st Deputy, right, holds a press conference on June 29. Photo Credit: John Roca Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart brought in a trusted colleague from her days as a Justice Department prosecutor in making James Skopek her first deputy commissioner last June. Now, Hart has won approval from the state Civil Service Commission for a waiver making the former Nassau detective sergeant Suffolk's latest double dipper with salary and pension totaling $309,460 a year.

Mom of alleged MS-13 victim killed by SUV at girl’s memorial

In this Monday, April 24, 2017 file photo, Evelyn Rodriguez, whose teen-aged daughter was brutally slain by MS-13 gang members in 2016, listens during a news conference by Suffolk County officials in Hauppauge, N.Y. Rodriguez recognized by President Donald Trump at the State of the Union after MS-13 gang members allegedly killed her daughter was struck and killed Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 by a car at the girl's memorial.

GOP State Sen. Tom Croci won’t seek third term

Republican State Sen. Tom Croci on Wednesday ended the long-running speculation about his future by announcing he will not run for re-election this fall. The development - which Croci had been hinting about for months - makes it even more dicey for the GOP to maintain its one-seat hold on the Senate majority in this fall's elections.

Cuomo reaching out to Suffolk County state Senate candidates

The following is an expanded version of the third item from my "Albany Insider" column from Monday's print editions: With some Democrats believing Suffolk County party chairman Richard Schaffer is in cahoots with the Republicans, Gov. Cuomo has begun personally reaching out to potential state Senate candidates on Long Island, county Dems and Republicans say. Cuomo has spoken to at least two potential candidates about running for the seats currently held by incumbent Republicans Phil Boyle, of Bay Shore, and Tom Croci, a Sayville Republican who sources say may not seek reelection.

Vet who lost legs in war now serves with police

Matias Ferreira, a former U.S. Marine Corps lance corporal who lost his legs below the knee when he stepped on a hidden explosive in Afghanistan in 2011, is joining a suburban New York police department. The 28-year-old graduated Friday from the Suffolk County Police Academy on Long Island after 29 weeks of training.

Double-amputee Marine vet joins New York police department

Matias Ferreira, a former U.S. Marine Corps lance corporal who lost his legs below the knee when he stepped on a hidden explosive in Afghanistan in 2011, is joining a suburban New York police department. The 28-year-old graduated Friday from the Suffolk County Police Academy on Long Island following 29 weeks of training.

Truncated Hermine TV alert wrongly airs evacuation order

Federal officials in New York are investigating an emergency alert system after a mistakenly truncated message about storm system Hermine wrongly advised TV watchers on Long Island of an ordered evacuation, authorities said Sunday. The Saturday night confusion started after Suffolk County emergency officials used an aspect of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's alert system for the first time since gaining access to it after Superstorm Sandy.