Louis Matarazzo, retired NYPD officer and police union advocate, dies at 83

Louis Matarazzo, an NYPD cop who became one of the legendary leaders and major backers of police unions on Long Island as well as in New York City and the rest of the state, has died. He was 83.

The resident of Rockville Centre, where he lived for more than 47 years with his wife, Frances, and raised five children, died on Sunday after suffering from a liver ailment, said his son John Matarazzo, also of Rockville Centre.

Louis Matarazzo was a New York City police officer for more than 35 years, and for 31, he served in various capacities with the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, now known as the Police Benevolent Association, according to a biography posted by the New York City Detectives' Endowment Association, one of the unions to which he gave continuous support.

“He was certainly a giant in the area of union representation,” said former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, who got to know Matarazzo during various labor negotiations.

“He was always a gentleman," Bratton recalled. "You could trust him."

After being elected to his first PBA position in 1977, Matarazzo climbed the ranks of the organization through the positions of recording secretary and treasurer and in 1995, president, according to the union. Matarazzo was preceded in the PBA presidency by Phil Caruso.

Matarazzo left the PBA leadership in December 1998. His departure sparked a spirited fight for the leadership position that ultimately led the next year to the election of current PBA president Patrick Lynch.

In a statement, Lynch said: “Our prayers are with the Matarazzo family and Lou’s friends and former colleagues from the PBA and beyond. On behalf of our entire union, we extend them our deepest condolences.”

After retiring from the PBA and the NYPD, Matarazzo began a lengthy second career as a lobbyist and advocate for police unions around the state, said Paul DiGiacomo, president of the New York City Detectives' Endowment Association.

Matarazzo joined the New York State Association of PBAs, now known as the Police Conference of New York, and advocated for legislation initiatives on behalf of cops, DiGiacomo said.

While extremely active in union affairs, Matarazzo also kept his family and his other interests in mind, including coaching local sports, said his son John.

“He was the best possible Dad, he could have been," he said.

In his spare time, Louis Matarazzo coached local youth baseball and worked with the Boys Club of New York as well as Nassau Community College, his son said.

Bratton, who served as police commissioner between 1994 and 1996, as well as from 2014 to 2016, said that during his first term with the NYPD, he worked well with Matarazzo on police labor issues.

“We had a very good working relationship," Bratton said. “I actually ended up speaking up for PBA at an arbitration hearing, saying they [cops] deserved pay raises.”

Besides his wife and son John, Louis Matarazzo is survived by four other children, Anna Maria Barbieri, Carla Haynes, Louis Matarazzo Jr. and Peter Matarazzo, all of Nassau County.

A wake will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the parish center of the Cathedral of St. Agnes in Rockville Centre. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday at the church.

By Anthony M. DeStefano

tony.destefano@newsday.comtonynewsday

Anthony M. DeStefano has been a reporter for Newsday since 1986 and covers law enforcement, criminal justice and legal affairs from its New York City offices.