By Jeff Lipton
Roslynn R. Mauskopf, who called Lawrence home between 1985 and 1997, was sworn in last week as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, which covers Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. She will be responsible for overseeing the criminal and civil cases for the Eastern District, while supervising a staff of about 180 attorneys and more than 140 support staff.
She was nominated for the post by President George W. Bush and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, Sept. 3.
The awesome responsibility of her post during this crucial juncture in American history has not been lost on her.
I was absolutely excited and privileged to be able to serve our country at one of the most critical times in our history, to be a part of the law enforcement community at such an important time, Mauskopf, 45, said in a telephone interview last Friday.
Her priorities include cracking down on violent crime, as well as knocking down sophisticated drug gangs that plague communities and stemming the flow of illegal guns into local neighborhoods. But her biggest challenge is America's newest and most sweeping problem: fighting terrorism and bringing terrorists to justice.
Obviously, my number one priority is to ensure the safety and security of our communities, Mauskopf said.
She added that the Eastern District has major airports such as Kennedy and LaGuardia, which, she said, raises unique challenges to fight terrorism that we in law enforcement face in New York.
Mauskopf has a long resume in the field of law enforcement. She served as New York State Inspector General from Oct. 6, 1995 to Aug. 30, 2002. Appointed by Gov. George Pataki, she directed the statewide, independent office responsible for investigating allegations of corruption, fraud, criminal activity, conflicts of interest and abuse in Executive Branch agencies.
In 1999, Gov. Pataki also appointed Mauskopf as chair of the Governor's Moreland Act Commission on New York City schools, charged with examining the operations and fiscal affairs of the city Board of Education and the city's School Construction Authority, uncovering systemic abuses.
Mauskopf also served as an assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, handling hundreds of violent crimes and white-collar crimes, including organized crime's control of trucking in the city garment industry, and she was named deputy chief of the Special Prosecutions Bureau in 1992, where she supervised and trained prosecutors on financial crimes.
I have been involved in crimefighting for the past 20 years. And now I have an opportunity to do it at the federal level, she said.
She said whether she is fighting crime at the state or federal level, it is relatively the same deal. The bottom line is seeking justice, she said.
As for the fight against terrorism, she said, It is an awesome responsibility, one I will not shoulder by myself. The federal, state and local law enforcement have been given strong new tools by the president and Congress to fight this war on terrorism and to eventually win the war on terrorism.
The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Mauskopf is dedicated to maintaining the legacy of Holocaust remembrance and has been active in support of survivors and their heritage.
Mauskopf said she remembers the Five Towns vividly and still holds a soft spot for the community.
I remember riding my bike to the Atlantic Beach Bridge to some of the most beautiful beaches, she said.
Mauskopf added that she also is an avid golfer and has played at some of the best public golf courses on Long Island, including the Lawrence Country Club.
And, of course, shopping in the Five Towns is the greatest, she added.
As the new U.S. Attorney, Mauskopf replaces Alan Vinegrad.
