New Babylon Rescue Boat Named For Constable Killed In Line Of Duty

COPIAGUE, NY — The Town of Babylon has dedicated a new 31-foot Harbor Patrol Safeboat in honor of fallen Bay Constable Richard L. Brooks, a retired NYPD lieutenant who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2004 while serving the town.

The vessel, named The Richard L. Brooks, was officially dedicated during a ceremony at Tanner Park Marina. The event was attended by Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Public Safety Commissioner Jerry Gigante, Harbor Master Artie Smith, Brooks’ widow, Sylvia Brooks, members of the Brooks family, Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly, Suffolk County Legislature Minority Leader Jason Richberg, Amityville Village Mayor Michael O'Neill, representatives from the office of Assemblyman Kwani B. O'Pharrow and the town’s Bay Constables.

"His memory will stay alive," Schaffer said. "He truly loved being on the water, and this dedication is a fitting tribute to a man who gave a lifetime of service — first as a volunteer firefighter in Amityville at just 17 years old, and throughout his entire career in law enforcement."

Brooks’ son, Richard Jr., thanked the town on behalf of the family.

"My dad loved the Town of Babylon, loved being on the water — he said being a Bay Constable was his retirement job and he did it for fun. With this boat, his memory stays alive, and that's really all we can ask for."

The vessel was funded in part through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security port security grant. The boat cost approximately $777,000, with the town securing $588,000, or roughly 80 percent, in federal funding.

Gigante said the grant was awarded after the town refined and resubmitted its application following an initial rejection.

"You could get a rejection and walk away from it, but Jerry and his team stood fast," Schaffer said. "Getting it on the second try is considered a significant achievement — it takes many municipalities years to secure this type of funding."

Town officials said the new vessel represents a major upgrade to the Bay Constables’ aging fleet, which previously included vessels dating back to 1995.

The Safeboat includes emergency medical transport capability for stretcher patients through a hydraulic drop-down bow, all-weather and offshore operation, thermal imaging and radiation detection technology, first aid and emergency response equipment, a 12-person capacity and a maneuverable design for tight-quarters operations.

Gigante said the vessel will strengthen the town’s role in multi-agency water rescues.

"On the water, resources are thin. When there's a missing person, an overturned boat, or an emergency, every municipality out there works together — and now we can fully participate in those rescues."

Smith said the boat can operate in ocean conditions and, if needed, transport patients directly to Good Samaritan University Hospital through the marina waterway.

Town officials also announced the recent receipt of a rescue gator, which will be used on town beaches and provide stretcher transport capability for beachside emergencies.

The dedication comes just days before one of the busiest boating weekends of the year. Town officials said Babylon has worked with state partners on boating safety education and licensing requirements, with Bay Constables conducting outreach to residents and young boaters throughout the season.