Nassau Police HQ Named For 1st Black Commissioner, William Willet

MINEOLA, NY — Former Nassau County Police Commissioner William J. Willet’s badge — 1029 — has been officially retired, but his legacy as the first black law enforcement officer to be appointed to the county’s top cop post will continue on.

Police Headquarters in Mineola has been renamed in honor of Willet, a Glen Cove resident who was appointed commissioner in 2000. The building, which fronts Franklin Avenue, was renamed in a special ceremony and Commissioner Patrick Ryder announced the retirement of Willett’s badge, meaning its number can never be issued to anyone in the department again, before we presenting it to his family enclosed in a glass case.

Willet left a “sterling legacy of service” from his 50 years in law enforcement, and established “a track record of breaking barriers as he rose up through the ranks” before reaching “the pinnacle” of the department, Legis. Delia DeRiggi-Whitton said.

“During his nearly five-decade career in law enforcement and a lifetime of selfless, courageous service, William J. Willett opened doors for so many people that followed in his footsteps,” she said. “I will forever be proud that Commissioner Willett is a native of Glen Cove and grateful for all he did during his life to make Nassau County a better place.”

Willet died at 71 in 2002 after a brief illness, according to a report in Newsday.

His son, Blake, told the outlet that the honor means a great deal to the Willet family, noting he “put his whole life” into his job.

He added: “In the years he was there, he saw so much. It’s incredible because it is not just a Nassau County building but a police building. He did make a difference and he will continue to make a difference.”