Carmody, who is white, claims he was "wrongfully and maliciously terminated" in August 2003 after he objected to and complained about racially offensive statements allegedly made by police department employees about the African-American residents of the Martin Luther King Jr. housing complex in Rockville Centre.
According to a press release issued by Carmody's lawyer, Frederick K. Brewington, "Mr. Carmody was shocked at the disrespectful and racially charged attitudes that were exhibited against the black members of the Village of Rockville Centre by his fellow police officers."
According to village spokesman Jeff Kluewer, the police department currently has 50 officers. Three are Hispanic, and none are black.
"I only sought to protect and serve while respecting those whom we serve," said Carmody, "but when I heard members of the Rockville Centre force call black residents names, I could not stand by and allow those comments to go unchallenged. It was just wrong, and because I voiced my objection, they treated me with the same disrespect."
Carmody began his career in law enforcement with the Ocean Beach Police Department on Long Island, spending two years there. He then moved to the Town of Islip Harbor Police Department for a one-year tour. According to the formal complaint filed by Carmody he received satisfactory performance reports from both departments.
After leaving the harbor police, Carmody worked for the New York City Police Department for 10 years. He was involved in training recruits in five academy classes, and claims to have logged more than 1,000 volunteer hours at ground zero after Sept. 11, 2001. According to the plaintiff, he left the NYPD for a higher salary and a shorter workday commute.
After taking the test to be a police officer in Nassau County, Carmody was selected, and began working for the Rockville Centre department in March 2002. He was immediately assigned to Post 1, which included the Martin Luther King housing complex.
In a Jan.2003 performance evaluation written by Sgt. Charles Gennario, his supervisor at the time, Carmody was characterized as an "energetic self starter who has a propensity for police work." The review continued, "In the short time he has been with the department, he leads the patrol force in arrests ... he handles all calls enthusiastically." Gennario concluded his evaluation by stating, "with greater experience in departmental procedures PO Carmody's potential in the department could be unlimited."
Carmody was notified in writing on Aug. 1, 2003, however, that he had not successfully completed his probationary period with the department. He was put on paid leave status and was scheduled to be terminated on Aug. 23, 2003.
While he was on leave, he was offered the chance to resign from the force and negate his termination. A letter dated Aug. 18, 2003, from McKeon to the executive director of the Nassau County Civil Service Commission, stated that Carmody "honorably and voluntarily resigned from the Rockville Centre Police Department effective Aug. 11, 2003."
The letter went on to request that Carmody's name be restored to the civil service list from which he was hired. After reviewing the case, the Civil Service Commission determined that reinstatement to the list of prospective candidates was not appropriate citing concerns about Carmody's inital termination.
Additionally, Carmody had requested reinstatement in the NYPD. That request was denied in a letter dated Aug. 22, 2003, citing the expiration of a one-year period of eligibility for reinstatement.
Representatives of the Village of Rockville Centre are waiting for their day in court to address the situation. "The village does not comment on pending litigation," said Village Attorney Martha Krisel. "We are denying the charges, and it is our position that he is a disgruntled former employee." Comments about this story? rvceditor@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 285
