By Karenlyn Barone
Capt. Diane Laukaitis is the commanding officer and the driving force behind East Rockaway's Auxiliary Police Unit 111. A resident of East Rockaway, she has been serving the people of the village as an auxiliary police officer for the past 23 years. During the blackout the people got to show their appreciation.
"The residents were just great," said Laukaitis. "People brought us bottles of water and someone even brought me an ice cream cone."
When the traffic lights were finally functional again, Laukaitis drove to the Centre Avenue train station to aid those stranded by the blackout.
"I actually found a yellow cab and convinced him to drive four people back to Manhattan," said Laukaitis. "One of those stranded called to thank me for being so nice. It felt good to hear that."
Also in debt to Laukaitis and her team are the local merchants whose premises the officers checked during the night.
"The night of the blackout, I inspected every store in this town," said Laukaitis. "I made sure that each store was locked up and secure."
East Rockaway's Auxiliary Police are one of 41 units in Nassau County. Their main communications unit is located at headquarters in Mineola, and they are certified by the Nassau County Police Department. The volunteer position requires a minimum eight hours of service per month and all recruits must go through 14 weeks of training at the Nassau County Police Academy. After successfully completing the training program, the new auxiliary police members are issued handcuffs and a night stick.
"We are the eyes and ears of the Nassau County Police Department," said Laukaitis. "We are here to help them out."
Covering disasters, parades and community security issues, the four active members of Unit 111 have logged over 120 years of service to their community. Lt. Joseph Kane has been a member for 32 years and Sgt. Michael Babcock has been serving for 23 years. The fourth member is Laukaitis' husband, Don.
"My husband Don was an auxiliary police officer when I joined," Laukaitis said with a smile. "He's been in the unit 26 years."
For Laukaitis, her commitment to the auxiliary police unit has been a family affair. She, in fact, followed in her mother, Rose Rust's, footsteps. Rust started with the unit in 1975 as a dispatcher and later became an auxiliary police officer. She was active in the unit until a month before she died, in 1985.
"I always looked up to my mom," said Laukaitis. "I joined the auxiliary when I was just 17 years old. I wanted to do something for my community. And I love what I do."
Laukaitis is proud to report that she has recruited three new volunteers this month and expects her own children, Eric, 16, and Amber, 10, will join too, someday.
"My daughter wrote in her fifth-grade yearbook this year that she sees herself as an auxiliary police officer when she grows up," said Laukaitis. "I don't doubt it."
Anyone interested in joining the East Rockaway Auxiliary Police may contact Captain Diane Laukaitis at 887-6319
Qualifications for Auxiliary Police
All applicants must be U.S. citizens
Reside in Nassau County
Be between the ages of 18 - 60
Have a valid driver's license
