Longtime Lynbrook police officer retires after nearly 30 years on the force

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After dedicating nearly 30 years to the Lynbrook Police Department, Lt. Danny Dillon called it a career on Jan. 8.

“It was just an honor and a pleasure to serve Lynbrook for as long as I did,” Dillon said. “I just felt it was time to spend time with my family.”

Dillon grew up in Lynbrook and attended Our Lady of Peace Elementary School. He graduated from Malverne High School in 1980. After one semester at Nassau Community College, he entered the NYPD academy in July 1984, graduating that December.

He spent nearly five years with the NYPD, working at the 113th precinct in Jamaica, Queens, and the 108th precinct in Woodside, Queens, as part of the street narcotics and anti-crime units. In June 1989, he was called to the Lynbrook Police Department. Dillon moved up the LPD ranks, becoming a sergeant in December 2010, and then being promoted to lieutenant in October 2014.

Last November, Dillon was named acting chief by Mayor Alan Beach when current Chief Joseph Neve took a leave of absence because of an illness. Neve returned to the job earlier this month, just before Dillon retired.

Dillon received many accolades during his time patrolling the streets of Lynbrook. He was named Officer of the Year by the Lynbrook Elks Club five times, was the recipient of the Town of Hempstead’s Distinguished Service Award twice and earned the Chiefs’ Award twice.

Now that he is retired, Dillon said he planned to spend a lot of time with his wife, Susan, whom he has been married to for 28 years, and their three children. He said he is proud to look back on his work in Lynbrook.

“I was happy that I got to help a lot of people along the way,” Dillon said. “I was tough when I needed to be tough and compassionate when I needed to be compassionate, and just treated everybody fairly.