RVC gains two officers

The Rockville Centre Police Department has added two new officers as a third has retired.

On Nov. 2, Police Commissioner Charles Gennario swore in Michael Rollo and Brian Vacchio, and longtime officer Dennis LaBarbera ended his career. “We welcomed two new members,” Gennario said. “We’re going to say goodbye to a member that’s been here for quite a long time.”

Born in Flushing, Rollo grew up in Nassau County. He graduated from W.T. Clarke High School, in Westbury, in 2005, and went on to earn a degree in forensic science and chemistry from the University of New Haven. He began his police career in 2013 in the New York Police Department’s 115th Precinct in Queens. “He worked patrol,” Gennario said of his career. “We’re very fortunate to have him.”

Vacchio was born and raised in Nassau County, graduated from Lynbrook High School in 2005 and attended Delaware Valley College and LIU Post. He spent two and a half years at the NYPD’s 79th Precinct, beginning in 2008, and then five years at the 110th Precinct in Queens, working in various units including patrol, highway and traffic safety and anti-crime.

Vacchio received a number of awards, including two Commander’s Day Awards, a Cop of the Month Award and the Corona Lions Club Community Policing Appreciation Award. He was also awarded the Excellent Police Duty Medal seven times and the Meritorious Police Duty Medal twice.

“We’re very happy to have both of them,” Gennario said before administering their oaths.

After following field-training officers for two weeks, Rollo and Vacchio started work on their own last Saturday.

LaBarbera started at the RVCPD in 1984, after training at the Nassau County Police Academy. “I’d like to point out Dennis is a recipient of the Police Department’s second-highest award,” said Gennario, “which is the Silver Star award, which he received [after] a shootout.”

Gennario also said that in 2003, LaBarbera could have picked the day or night tour because of his seniority — but took the night patrol. “I can testify, it can be brutal on the body and the mind and the family,” Gennario said. “But one of the good things that happens in the department is that there are usually younger guys, less-experienced guys, on the night tour. So Dennis was able to train those guys, and it’s made a big difference in the department.”