Hate Mail With Racist Slurs Sent To School Superintendent

RIVERHEAD, NY — Aurelia Henriquez, the former superintendent of the Riverhead Central School District, received mail with racist slurs before resigning, according reports from Suffolk County police.

The mail reportedly came at around the same time Henriquez resigned.

Documents sent to Patch from Suffolk police said on Monday, June 22 at 7 a.m., someone placed an envelope addressed to Henriquez, on the windshield of her car outside her East Patchogue home.

There was a second envelope, the police report said, stating, "B-----! Go! Resign or you will suffer if you won't leave. We hate your kind."

Inside the envelope was a Barbie doll head and an arm, the report said.

A detective from the Suffolk County Hate Crimes Unit responded to the 5th Precinct, police said. An investigation was opened to assist Riverhead police, Suffolk County police said. In July, Henriquez said she did not wish to pursue any further investigation into the incident, police said.

"Complainant did not want any police officers to go to her neighborhood or contact any of her neighbors regarding surveillance cameras," the report said.

"Due to the complainant's unwillingness to cooperate," police were unable to determine if any crime was committed, the SCPD said.

It wasn't the first time Henriquez said she received hate mail, police said in the reports. On July 1, police received a request from Riverhead police asking for the hate crimes unit's assistance with "non-threatening" letters that Henriquez received and brought to the Riverhead Police Department to document receiving them.

The two letters, the report said, stated, "We hate your kind," and "This town does not need dirty s---- and n------. GO!"

According to Riverhead Local, which first reported the story, the other note said: "We do not need a sp— illegal dirty leading our school. Get her out or we will. White lives matter. This is a Republican white town. Send all illegals out! Back! Build a wall in Riverhead! Get Dr. H out!"

Henriquez said she didn't wish to pursue the case and it was closed and deemed non-criminal, police said.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Yvette Aguiar, a retired NYPD counterterrorism sergeant, said she sent the case to the FBI's Melville office and made a request for the FBI to look into the matter.

"The message that was being sent is against the moral values and the fabric of our society," Aguiar said. "These types of racist acts should not be tolerated in our community and the individuals should be held accountable."

Aguiar added that it's a federal crime to send hate mail "trying to instill fear in an individual" through the U.S. Postal Service.

The incident will be discussed with the Riverhead police and the town's Anti-Bias Task Force, Aguiar said. Riverhead Town has long had an active Anti-Bias Task Force that will address what transpired, she said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order in June mandating that all police departments in New York embrace reform and community policing. Cuomo threatened to revoke state funding for agencies that do not adhere, she reminded.

"Hate is not going to be tolerated in this community," Aguiar said. "We've got to send a message out."

Henriquez did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the letters she received. The FBI's New York City media line did not immediately return a request for comment.

According to a statement from Riverhead Board of Education President Gregory M. Meyer and Henriquez in June, Henriquez submitted her resignation based upon "certain irreconcilable differences and in the best interests of her family."

The district and Henriquez executed a separation agreement; Henriquez's resignation was effective June 30, the statement said.

"The Board of Education wishes to thank Dr. Henriquez for her commitment to the students, staff and community during her tenure with the district," the statement said. "Dr. Henriquez extends her appreciation to the students, staff and community for their support of her leadership as superintendent of schools."

The Board of Education appointed Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Christina Tona to serve as interim superintendent, effective July 1.

"As the interim superintendent of the Riverhead Central School District, I thoroughly condemn anyone who engages in racist or biased behavior," Tona told Patch. "I am not in a position to comment specifically on the letters received by Dr. Henriquez, but I can say without equivocation that racism, bias, bigotry and hatred have no place in our society and I will do everything I can to ensure that our schools operate with fairness, equity and tolerance."

The BOE said it intended to begin a "thorough search process to identify the best candidate to serve as the district's next superintendent of schools," the release said. "Since this is a confidential matter of personnel, the Board of Education, the district and Dr. Henriquez will have no further comments regarding this matter."

The news came soon after residents voted down the proposed 2020-21 school budget; in February, residents also said "no" to a $96.5 million bond resolution that would have funded repairs and renovations throughout the Riverhead Central School District.

Voters also rejected a revote in July, meaning the district is operating under a contingency budget.