Graduating Class Of 25 SCPD Sergeants Announced: Bellone

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — The promotion of 25 Suffolk County Police Department officers and detectives to the rank of sergeant was announced Friday by Executive Steve Bellone. The newly-minted sergeants completed their four-week Police Supervision training at the Suffolk Police Academy.

The promotions will fill long-time vacancies in the department, which is meant to help ensure greater oversight of patrol officers. The promotions mark the first since the county's Police Reform and Reinvention Plan was installed.

Bellone noted the promotion of Apryl Hargrove, the first Black female sergeant in the police department's history.

"The officers being promoted [Friday] are taking another well-earned and important step in their law enforcement careers," Bellone stated. "We have been working incredibly hard to help ensure diversity within the ranks of the SCPD, and today we reach another major milestone with the promotion of the first Black female sergeant in department history. Our goal is now to ensure that is the norm, as we work to promote and recruit additional officers in the future."

The four-week course the 25 new sergeants completed ended on Friday. The promoted officers were given instruction in the following subjects: Professional Communications, Hate Crimes, Implicit Bias, Use of Force, Ethics, Incident Command, Serving the limited English-proficient community, as well as SCPD policies and procedures and Felony Investigations.

The new sergeants have an average of 11 years’ experience, with officers ranging from five to 28 years on the job. Additionally, eight officers have prior military experience, including Major Apryl Hargrove, who is a 20 year U.S. Army veteran.

The county has taken special efforts to ensure diversity within all ranks of the police department, and 16 percent of this class are people of color, Bellone said.

Those being promoted include:

• George Schmidt
• Kathleen Torres
• Lary Ruiz
• Apryl Hargrove
• Erik Doughty
• Matthew Sullivan
• Kevin Montalbano
• Thomas Wynne
• Anthony Rosati
• Erik Nordmann
• Paul Schreiber
• George Madjarian
• James Vartholomeos
• John Cappetta
• Liam Kelly
• Christopher Porcaro
• Christopher Ingoglia
• Michael Gilistro
• Anthony Sangimino
• Anthony Wuria
• Michael Rebentisch
• Keith Villano
• James Berberich
• John Flinchum
• Jordan Harvin

"This is a well-deserved opportunity for these officers and detectives who have received exceptional training to lead officers in the day-to-day operations of the department," Suffolk County Police Department Acting Commissioner Stuart Cameron said. "Being a supervisor can be challenging, but these individuals have proven they possess the skills necessary to perform at the highest standards. I have the utmost confidence in these new Sergeants, as we move forward implementing the police reform plan."

Earlier this year, Bellone swore in a new police class with the highest percentage of minorities in department history. Of the 104 recruits, 28 percent were minorities and 10 of the recruits are fluent Spanish speakers, according to the county.