Rockville Centre pays its respect to fallen police officer

Retired Rockville Centre Police sergeant Ernest Otto Ziegler Jr., a highly respected officer who served the residents of the village for many years, died August 16.

Ziegler, 52, died after suffering from multiple pulmonary embolisms while in the care of the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.

“Sergeant Ernest Ziegler was a dedicated member of our Rockville Centre Police Department who went above and beyond during his tenure to ensure the safety of our residents and visitors,” Rockville Centre Mayor Francis X. Murray said in a statement.  “On behalf of the Rockville Centre Police Department and everyone at the Village, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to the Ziegler family and friends as they mourn their loss.”

Ziegler grew up in East Meadow, and is remembered by those who knew him best as a dedicated cop and a loyal friend. Before joining the Rockville Centre police force, he worked as a United States Border Patrol agent and an NYPD officer.

He was severely injured in a horrific car accident in 2008 when a burglary suspect hit him on the side of the road. As a result, Ziegler needed a plate surgically placed in his neck and suffered from multiple herniated discs. Due to the severity of the injuries, he was unable to continue his duties as an officer and took an early retirement.

“It’s just tragic,” Rockville Centre Police Benevolent Association President James Carty said. “Ernie was a good guy.”

Carty worked closely with Ziegler while on midnight patrols around the village.

After the accident, Ziegler and his wife, Teresa, moved to their 12-acre property in Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania, where they spent their summers for the past six years. In the winter, they traveled south to their special getaway in Juno Beach, Florida.

Teresa said that they had just bought a trailer and had planned to see the countryside when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

“He was a friend to everyone,” she said. “He had hands of gold and could do just about anything from changing the fender on a car to planting his vegetables in the farm.”

Teresa said that he also had a pumpkin patch that he took great pride in, and once a year, invited all of their nieces and nephews to come up to the farm and pick their own pumpkins. 

Apart from his work in law enforcement, Ernie Ziegler loved his many hobbies.

He was a beekeeper who produced and sold his own honey. He was also a moonshine-maker, a fisherman, a boater, a motorcycle enthusiast, and a general thrill-seeker.

His long-time friend and scuba instructor, Bill Packer, said Ziegler always lived his life to the fullest and that together they shared exciting memories and adventures.

“We jumped out of airplanes, went scuba diving at night with sharks, and rode motorcycles together. He was a great guy,” Packer said. “Ernie was one of those folks you could call at two or even four o’clock in the morning.”

His greatest joy in life was spending time with his two children, Michelle and Christopher, who he was very proud of. His daughter currently works as a guidance counselor in Chicago and his son is a Doctor of Pharmacy at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. They graduated Villanova and Brown University, respectively.

His other great joy was spending time playing and training his service dog, Zoey, who he taught to get his sneakers and turn on the lights.

“She was the light of his life,” Teresa said.

He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle and friend who will be greatly missed by those who knew him.

“I have many memories of us growing up together as teens,” Roni Alicia Kaufman said via Facebook. “He was extremely sweet, always smiling, hard working, so helpful, a great provider, extremely caring and giving.”

Kaufman said Ziegler was a true hero and served as a positive role model to those who came in contact with him, because he was able to overcome many obstacles and accomplished a great many things during his lifetime.

“He loved his family and friends very much,” Kaufman said. “Forever in Our Hearts Ernie, he will be missed so very much.”

Services were held in his memory on Sunday, Aug. 21 at the Krauss Funeral Home, 1097 Hempstead Turnpike in Franklin Square, followed by the funeral on Monday, Aug. 22.

He was laid to rest at St. Charles Cemetary in Farmingdale.

Anyone wishing to honor his life, flowers may be sent to his family. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to pay respect can also plant a tree in his memory via the Krauss Funeral Home’s tribute store.