By EVAN NEMEROFF
Following the completion of the police academy, a graduation ceremony took place on Nov. 18 at Nassau County Police headquarters in Mineola officially welcoming the officers to the force.
“It has always been a passion of mine since I was young to be an officer, and I am excited to pass the academy and to be able to serve in the community that I grew up in and where I still live today.” Horowitz said. “It was not easy to pass the academy and it took due diligence and lots of studying to be able to graduate.”
The police academy is a six-month program that meets once a week for three-and-a-half hours. It teaches the recruits first aid, CPR, penal laws, trafficking duties and crisis intervention tactics among other things, which are all necessities to continuing the mission of the auxiliary police: dedication, service and pride. The recruits also must go through immense physical training.
Kwitkin won the academic award for his academy class, which included Horowitz and 18 other members. “It was a big accomplishment to win this award,” Kwitkin said. “I learned a lot in the academy, which was an abbreviated version of what the Nassau County Police Department officers go through."
Danny Gluck, deputy commanding officer lieutenant of the auxiliary police, is excited for the edition of the new officers. "I am thrilled and proud to have two new and outstanding officers added to my unit," he said. "An increase of officers will help keep the neighborhood safe," Gluck said. "We are excited for our recent graduates and are looking forward for recruits waiting to be processed for the next academy and becoming part of our force."
The Five Towns Auxiliary Police are volunteer officers who help the 4th Precinct keep the community a safe place to live by being the “eyes and ears” of the Nassau County Police Department. They provide crowd control and security at special events and parades and also support the police if there is an emergency in the area.
The auxiliary police unit is based in the 4th Precinct and helps patrol Atlantic Beach, Cedarhurst, Hewlett, Inwood, Lawrence, Woodmere, North Woodmere, Hewlett Neck, Woodsburgh, Hewlett Bay Park and Hewlett Harbor. Unlike the 4th Precinct, the officers do not get paid for what they do. They rely upon grants from the places they serve to buy all of their equipment on utility belts, purchasing their own cars, radios, uniforms, handcuffs, shoes, and hats.
"I am honored to be part of the 2008 Nassau County auxiliary graduating class and am ecstatic and privileged to be part of the Five Towns Unit 109 and working with the 4th Precinct," Kwitkin said. "I am looking forward to working and serving in the community to keep it safe.”
Unit 109 has three new officers already approved for the next class starting on Feb. 18, with 12 more applications already in and waiting for approval. To join the Nassau County Auxiliary Police, a person must be a United States citizen, have a New York State driver's license, pass a physical examination, and consent to a background investigation
and drug test.
Horowitz believes everything she went through is well worth it and can’t wait to help keep the Five Towns a safe place for everybody, especially children. “I am most looking forward to being a role model for the kids,” Horowitz said. “Even during the academy, I went out on patrol, and the kids loved seeing the uniform, not even associating me as an auxiliary police officer. I am excited to talk to the kids and just helping out in the community and being a part of a great family.”
Comments on this story? ENemeroff@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 210.
