RVCPD Officer Mike Rollo recognized as top cop

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New York Elks Lodge No. 1 in Lynbrook hosted its annual Police Officers of the Year ceremony on May 17, and an officer from the Rockville Centre Police Department was honored along with policeman from East Rockaway, Lynbrook, Valley Stream and Roosevelt.

Rockville Centre Officer Michael Rollo was one of the eight policemen who were recognized by their respective precincts. They were awarded plaques for their acts of heroism during arrests they made in 2016.

Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Chuck Gennario spoke on Rollo’s behalf and cited the two burglary arrests he made within two months of each other as the reason why his officer was deserving of the honor.

The first arrest began as a call about a broken window. Another officer alerted Rollo that somebody was running down an alley adjacent to the building.

“Knowing the area, Mike entered a courtyard that the alley led to,” Gennario explained. “When he got there, he heard a door slam, but he didn’t see where it went.”

Rollo knocked on the door and found the suspect possessing marijuana. Gennario noted that his officer’s quick thinking and superb instincts led to an eventual arrest and an investigation that uncovered further possession of controlled substances, a gun and a burglary charge.

During the second arrest, Rollo responded to a call for a burglary in progress. The officer entered the building and found the suspect in a bathroom with the stolen goods. Rollo handcuffed the suspect and placed him under arrest.

Rollo joined the department in 2015, but Gennario believes that he already has the instincts of a seasoned veteran.

“Ever since Mike joined us, he has been an outstanding performer and a real asset to the department,” he said.

The other officers recognized by the Elks Lodge were Sean Gaddy and Nicholas Scicutella of the fifth precinct of the Nassau County Police Department, Edmund O’Connor of the fourth precinct of East Rockaway, Christopher Skartsiaris of the Lynbrook Police Department and Ronald Curaba of the county’s first precinct.