Officer Wins Award At Annual Police Awards Ceremony

Photos: Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office announced that a Central Islip officer was named “Officer of the Year” and awarded The Howard C. Stock Memorial Award at the 45th Annual Police Awards sponsored by the Southampton Town Kiwanis Club.

Correction Officer Monique McCray received the top award during a ceremony held at the Atlantis Banquet Hall in Riverhead on Friday, January 23.

Each year, fifteen East End police organizations compete for the coveted distinction, and also gather to pay tribute to exceptional officers from each agency.

Officer McCray, a ten year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, was selected Police Officer of the Year for her dedication to improving outcomes for incarcerated youth.

She was instrumental in developing Sheriff Vincent DeMarco’s Incarcerated Youth Initiative and has made it her mission to provide guidance, mentoring and hope to justice involved teens under her care at the Riverhead Correctional Facility.

Officer McCray is also a leader in her community of Central Islip where she is a board member of the Youth Empowerment Project and a founding member of Building Bridges Uniting Communities.

In addition to The Howard C. Stock Memorial Award, Officer McCray was presented with the Correction Officer of the Year Award along with Deputy Sheriff Michael Kern, who was named Deputy Sheriff of the Year during the ceremony.

Officer Kern is a Drug Recognition Expert with the Sheriff’s Office and an instructor for the New York State Drug Recognition Training Program.

He has taught hundreds of officers throughout New York State in advanced policing techniques and his enforcement efforts have resulted in countless DWI and DUI arrests in Suffolk County.

Deputy Sheriff Kern is a ten-year veteran of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, and also served as a New York City Police Officer for seven years.

“Suffolk County residents are fortunate to have two of the finest public servants working on their behalf as members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office,” Sheriff Vincent F. DeMarco said. “I am grateful to the members of the Kiwanis Club for paying tribute to our staff, but also for recognizing the fine work performed by highly dedicated law enforcement officers in all the East End towns.”