Nassau County swears in 69 new police recruits

Sixty-nine newly minted Nassau County police recruits, many of whom previously served in the military, were sworn in Friday.

The new class of recruits, who will spend the next six to eight months in the police academy, were chosen out of 1,000 applicants, County Executive Edward Mangano told the officers.

"You are a distinguished group of recruits," Mangano said before he led the officers in their oath of office at police headquarters in Mineola. "You are 69 out of 1,000."

Officials said 34 officers, including Michael Goldstein, 26, have military experience.

Goldstein, an Army veteran, said he served as a military police officer during his 15 months in Baghdad after graduating from Massapequa High School in 2006.

He also served as a squad leader in Afghanistan, where he rose to become a sergeant, he said.

"It just seemed like the perfect fit to come back to my hometown and work with the community that I grew up in," the 2014 Farmingdale State College graduate said.

The recruits will join a department, started in 1925, that has more than 2,200 officers and 1,200 civilian employees.

Acting Police Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter told the recruits that academy training will be extensive and likely exhausting.

He said learning the "realities of police work" in the academy may make them feel anxious and apprehensive.

"Apply yourselves and stay the course. It is hard work and personal sacrifice that will earn you the right and privilege to wear the shield of a Nassau County police officer," he said.

As Mangano closed his speech, he said: "God bless you. God bless your families and stay safe."