Obituaries
Sands Point Police Officer Dies After Contracting Coronavirus
A 19-year veteran of the Sands Point Police Department​ was identified as the officer.
SANDS POINT, NY — A Sands Point police officer died after contracting the new coronavirus, officials announced Thursday. Sgt. Joseph Spinosa, a 19-year veteran of the Sands Point Police Department, was identified as the officer, chief Tom Ruehle wrote in a Facebook post.
He said it was with an "extremely heavy heart" that he reported Spinosa's death, which happened in the line of duty death due to COVID-19.
Spinosa was hired in September 2000, the fire department wrote in a Facebook post. He was awarded the Nassau County municipal police chief's officer of the year award in 2008 and received the 2015 Life Saving Award.
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He was promoted to sergeant in December 2018.
"He will be forever missed and loved," Ruehle wrote.
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