By Angela Marshall
The commissioner was in his car last Thursday when he heard a radio report that advised police to be on the lookout for a white Honda whose occupants were wanted in connection with an armed robbery at the Rockville Centre Long Island Rail Road station.
Spotting the car on Peninsula Boulevard, McKeon radioed for backup and followed it. When the car stopped at a red light, the commissioner got out of his car, pulled his gun and effected an arrest. He even reached into the startled suspects' car to put it in park, according to sources in the village.
Our police commissioner, Jack McKeon, showed he is not only an excellent leader of his department, but also still an excellent street cop, said Mayor Eugene Murray during the Village Board of Trustees meeting on Monday.
The take from the robbery, which had taken place just after 11 a.m., was found in the car. The driver, Wendell Stuart, 20, of Rosedale, and his passenger, Joseph Medina, 19, of Staten Island, were both charged with second-degree robbery.
The victim of the crime, identified only as a Manhattan resident, was approached by Stuart, who was armed with a handgun, on the corner of North Village Avenue and Front Street near the train station. Stuart reportedly demanded the man's money, rifling through his pockets and removing a wallet, cash and keys before fleeing in the white Honda. The victim ran after him and flagged down police officer Lambert, who called in the robbery.
After he stopped the car, the commissioner received assistance from officers Paul Pope and Everett Mojica.
He did a great job, Lt. Dennis Marcel said of the commissioner's bust. Everybody was very impressed.
A longtime member of the Naval Reserve, McKeon was called up to serve after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was gone from the village for several months. He recently received the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his work in counterintelligence in the Persian Gulf.
Rockville Centre is lucky to have an officer of your experience, training and courage to lead our police department, the mayor said.
