Rockville Centre Police Commissioner: 'Thank you and farewell'

Charles Gennario

I have had the privilege of employment in public service as a Marine officer for 28 years and as a police officer for the Rockville Centre community for 32 years. I have been proud of, and enjoyed that service, from the beginning.  

I learned early on that a leader is responsible for what his or her organization and its members do or fail to do. That is a tenet of leadership. I certainly accepted that responsibility when I was sworn in as the village’s police commissioner and every day thereafter. The mayor and the Board of Trustees have decided not to reappoint me as commissioner, which is certainly their prerogative. As I leave my post, I want to say thank you and farewell to the residents of this great community. 

As I begin a new chapter in my life, I leave with a heavy heart, but I want to say that this is a tremendous community. I have been so proud to be your police commissioner. I have always said that I answered to the Board of Trustees, but I worked for the residents.   

The decades I have spent patrolling the streets of Rockville Centre have been challenging at times, but always rewarding. Although I do not reside here, I felt this was my community because of the great relationships I established with so many people and the countless hours I have spent here. 

I have always had the best interests of the village and the department at heart. I truly hope I have left this department that I love a little better than when I started as commissioner. I am confident that this community will remain one of the safest in New York. 

I would like to thank former Mayor Mary Bossart for believing in me and appointing me as commissioner, as well as Mayor Fran Murray for the opportunity to continue to serve.  I wish the best to my successor, Lt. James Vafeades. I am sure he will do an outstanding job. 

I can assure him he is inheriting an outstanding department composed of tremendous individuals. I always took pride in the fact that the police department was made up of not only good employees, but good people. As I say goodbye to my sworn and non-sworn personnel, and the residents of Rockville Centre, I want to thank you for all your support in the past and the tremendous support you have shown me upon learning of my departure. I will miss you all and I wish nothing but the best for you. I ask God to bless you and always look over you. Semper Fidelis.