Rockville Centre Opts To Not Renew Commissioner's Contract

The Village of Rockville Centre has opted not to renew the appointment of Police Commissioner Charles Gennario, ending his 8-year-long run as the village's police chief on March 31.

Gennario has been a member of the Rockville Centre Police Department for 32 years. He started with the department a few years after finishing four years of active duty with the Marines. He worked his way through the ranks, and was appointed commissioner after Jack McKeon retired in 2009.

However, the department has come under increasing scrutiny lately. Earlier this month, RVCPD Officer Anthony Federico was acquitted of charges that he used excessive force during an arrest. And just last week, another Rockville Centre officer, Christopher Stafford, was charged with secretly taping a sexual encounter he had with a woman.

The village did not say why it had decided not to renew Gennario's appointment, but did say in a statement that he was "contemplating retirement."

"This administration is looking at its options to appoint a highly-qualified candidate that wants to lead the men and women of our police department, bring a fresh approach to law enforcement and serve the law-abiding residents and businesses in our village," the statement reads. "It would be premature to discuss our deliberations with the media until a final decision is made."

According to the village, it is looking at "highly qualified" candidates both inside and outside of the department. If no viable candidate is selected by March 31, the village will likely have an interim commissioner take over.

Gennario, who is 63, isn't sure what his future plans are. He currently teaches criminal justice as an adjunct professor at C.W. Post, and plans to continue that. He said the village offered him the option of returning to the rank of lieutenant and staying in the department, but he opted not to.

But Gennario said he loves Rockville Centre and the police department, and cherishes the decades he spent there.

"It's been sometimes frustrating, but always rewarding," he said. "Truthfully, I have the best police department in the world. I love this police department and I love the personnel."

Photo: Rockville Centre Police Department