Friday, November 6, 2026
The American Legion’s Rockville Centre Post 303 honored local police, fire and emergency medical personnel during its annual Law & Order Night, recognizing three individuals for their service to the community.
The ceremony, held Oct. 16, continued the post’s tradition of recognizing local first responders, which dates to 2012. More than 100 people attended this year’s event, including elected officials and representatives from local government, Post Vice Commander and Law & Order Chairman Paul Casazza said.
Representatives from the congressional and state legislative offices, the Nassau County executive’s office and the Village also attended.
“This might have been one of the better ones we did,” Casazza said.
The evening’s honorees were Detective Dominic Scicutella of the Rockville Centre Police Department, Honorary Chief William Lapkowski of the Rockville Centre Fire Department and Honorary Chief Charles “Chuck” Joyce, who was recognized for his emergency medical service.
The police and fire departments select the individuals honored each year, Casazza said. Post 303 sends a letter to each department announcing the annual awards and asking them to choose a recipient. The police department selects an officer, while the fire department selects a firefighter and an emergency medical technician.
Scicutella received an engraved M4 rifle donated by Dark Storm Industries. The custom award included his name, badge number and the emblems of the Rockville Centre Police Department and American Legion. Lapkowski and Joyce each received an engraved axe plaque and an American Legion medal.
Lapkowski, who has been a member of the fire department for 59 years, said he was grateful to have been nominated by his company and the department.
“I was glad and honored to be even nominated by the fire department and my company,” he said. “Just very glad, very proud.”
The evening was particularly meaningful for Lapkowski because two of his daughters, their husbands, his grandchildren and his brother, Mike, a former American Legion post commander, attended.
“I was very glad that they all attended,” Lapkowski said.
The ceremony also highlighted the post’s commitment to encouraging young people to become involved in civic life. The post sponsored two local students, Quinn Heptig and Thomas Owens, to attend the American Legion’s 2026 Boys State program over the summer.
Boys State is a leadership and civics program that introduces high school students to government and the legal system through activities involving elections, lawmaking and the courts. Casazza said the post interviews prospective delegates and looks especially for students interested in attending a service academy.
“[Quinn’s] an outstanding young man wanting to serve his country,” Casazza said.
Casazza said organizing the evening and the post’s other community programs requires a collective effort, supported in part by fundraising and donations. The post also supports veterans’ organizations, he said.
“The American Legion in Rockville Centre is a community organization,” Casazza said. “We’re just like neighbors, we’re everyone’s neighbor. We just happen to be veterans.”
He said legion members continue serving the community after their military service, while also supporting veterans and local youth.
