The Floral Park Board of Trustees swore in two new police officers, Brian Greene and Joseph Sawicki, at its meeting Tuesday.
“These two officers are people who grew up in our community from two families that have given back so much to our community,” said Mayor Dominick Longobardi. “They are officers that are not unfamiliar with our village family.”
Longobardi surprised residents by calling up former Mayor Kevin Greene to swear in his son Brian Greene. Kevin Greene served on the board for over 16 years, and declined to run in 2010.
“Both of Greene’s parents grew up in town, so again we are very proud and very honored to have them as part of our Police Department,” said Longobardi.
Longobardi said that Sawicki is a member of the Floral Park Fire Department as a volunteer. Sawicki’s family, he said, is also very active throughout the community.
Greene and Sawicki are coming to the Floral Park Police Department from the New York City Police Department. Longobardi said that the board is very thankful for what the New York department has taught the two officers and that everyone is looking forward to having them serve in Floral Park.
The board also addressed the ongoing Covert Avenue construction. This has been a big issue with residents as a part of the street has been closed due to the construction of a third track from Floral Park to Hicksville.
The board urged residents to help their neighbors and continue to “shop locally” and support all of the local businesses that are being affected due to road closures and traffic issues as a result of the construction.
Longobardi said that the building company and the LIRR have been working with the village to make sure that the construction doesn’t affect everything in town.
“I’m asking everybody to please patronize all of the businesses, not only on Covert but Tulip Avenue and Jericho Turnpike,” said Longobardi. “I want to thank the Chamber of Commerce for all of their efforts to promote their businesses and all that they are doing but the reality is that we still, as neighbors and friends, need to patronize these businesses and make sure that this construction work while it lasts doesn’t affect them and hurt their businesses.”
The next board meeting will be on May 21.
