Commissioner Charles Gennario Says Goodbye To Rockville Centre

To the Residents to Rockville Centre,

I have had the privilege of public service; first for the nation as a Marine Officer for 28 years and then as a police officer for our 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 their organization and its members do or fail to do. That is a tenant of leadership. I certainly accepted that responsibility when I was sworn in as commissioner and every day after. The mayor and the Board of Trustees have decided not to re-appoint me as Commissioner of Police, which is certainly within 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 commissioner. I always said, I answered to the Board of Trustees but I worked for the residents. The Board of Trustees work for the residents and answer to them. The decades I have spent patrolling the streets of Rockville Centre have been challenging at times, but always rewarding. Although I have not lived here, I felt this was my community because of the great relationships I have established with so many great 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 began as commissioner. I am confident this community will remain one of the safest in New York State.

I want to thank former Mayor Mary Bossart for believing in me and appointing me commissioner, and thank Mayor Fran Murray for the opportunity to serve this community. 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 good-bye to my sworn and non-sworn employees, 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, and I ask God to bless you and always look over you.

Semper Fidelis,
Chuck Gennario