The 2020 NCPD PO MEM 5k is canceled
In 1993 Police Officer Gary Farley died in the line of duty. To honor PO Farley’s memory, the Nassau Police Running Club elected to sponsor an annual 5-K Run in an effort to ensure that PO Farley would be remembered. The run was titled the PO Gary Farley Memorial 5-K Run. In 2011 the Nassau County Police Department tragically lost PO Michael Califano and PO Geoffrey Breitkopf both in the line of duty. The PO Gary Farley Memorial 5-K Run was renamed to the Nassau County Police Department Police Officer Memorial Run in order to honor PO Califano and PO Breitkopf. Tragically, since 2011 the Nassau County Police Department has lost five additional officers in the line of duty: PO Charles D. Cole, PO Joseph P. Olivieri Jr., PO Arthur Lopez, PO Peter Martino and PO Paul J. McCabe. To honor the memory of our fallen officers, the Nassau Police Running Club presents scholarships to High School students who participate in school running clubs. These scholarships are presented to students who are graduating from the High Schools that our fallen members attended. The Nassau Police Running Club vows to never forget our fallen members.
Police Officer Gary R. Farley
Date of Appointment: July 18, 1986
End of Watch: March 7, 1993, Age 36
On Friday March 5, 1993 at 8:30 p.m., PO Farley was present at 150 Division Avenue, Massapequa, New York in response to a complaint of a violent mental aided. While attempting to subdue the aided person PO Farley was struck in the chest by the subject. Following the altercation, PO Farley complained to the other Officers that he had pains in his hand, arm, and shoulder and did not feel well. At 8:30 a.m. Saturday, March 6, 1993 PO Farley collapsed. He was transported to Nassau County Medical Center, where he was placed on a respirator. He was pronounced dead at 3:00 a.m. Sunday, March 7, 1993. PO Farley had served with the Department for 7 years and is survived by his wife, and two children. PO Farley’s son later joined the Nassau County Police Department.
Police Officer Michael J. Califano
Date of Appointment: December 3, 1998
End of Watch: February 5, 2011, Age 44
PO Califano was killed when his patrol car was struck by a truck as he conducted a vehicle stop. PO Califano pulled over a box truck on the Long Island Expressway near exit 39 for insufficient lighting. As PO Califano was sitting in his patrol car writing a summons, it was struck by a flatbed tow truck. The force of the impact pushed the patrol car under the box truck and knocked the box truck into traffic. The flatbed truck ended up on top of the police car. It took rescuers thirty minutes to cut through the roof of the patrol car and remove PO Califano. Officer Califano was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he died from his injuries. PO Califano had served with the Department for 12 years and is survived by his wife and three children.
Police Officer Geoffrey J. Breitkopf
Date of Appointment: December 3, 1998
End of Watch: March 12, 2011, Age 40
PO Breitkopf was accidentally shot and killed after being mistaken for a suspect by another police officer. Officers from the Nassau County Police Department and an officer from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Department responded to a call in Massapequa Park of a man running through the neighborhood armed with several knives. After locating the suspect, they chased him on foot into a house, where the suspect barricaded himself inside a room. The officers removed the other occupants of the house and were inside when the suspect exited and charged at the officers with a knife in his hand. The officers shot and killed the suspect. PO Breitkopf, who was in plainclothes, responded to back-up the officers. He arrived at the scene just after the suspect had been shot and killed. He approached the house holding a rifle and was mistaken for a suspect by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority police officer, who then shot PO Breitkopf. PO Breitkopf was taken to Nassau University Medical Center where he died from his wound. PO Breitkopf had served with the Department for 12 years and was assigned to the Bureau of Special Operations. PO Breitkopf is survived by his wife and two children.
Police Officer Charles D. Cole Jr.
Date of Appointment: July 24, 1987
End of Watch: August 14, 2011, Age 49
PO Cole died from illnesses he contracted from inhaling toxic materials as he participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill. PO Cole served with the Department for 24 years and was assigned to the Emergency Services Unit. PO Cole is survived by his wife, and two children.
Police Officer Joseph P. Olivieri Jr.
Date of Appointment: December 3, 1998
End of Watch: October 18, 2012, Age 43
PO Olivieri was struck and killed by a vehicle while investigating an accident in the HOV lane of the Long Island Expressway, near Exit 35. PO Olivieri had exited his patrol car when another vehicle entered the crash scene and struck him. PO Olivieri was transported to North Shore University Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. PO Olivieri served with the Department for 13 years and had previously served with the New York City Police Department. PO Olivieri is survived by his two children.
Police Officer Arthur Lopez
Date of Appointment: July 29, 2004
End of Watch: October 23, 2012, Age 29
PO Lopez was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a hit-and-run driver at the intersection of 241st Street and Jamaica Avenue. PO Lopez and his partner observed a vehicle they believed had been involved in the hit-and-run accident near the border of Nassau County and New York City. The officers followed the vehicle into Queens, where they conducted a vehicle stop. The subject opened fire on the officers after they approached and exchanged words. PO Lopez was struck in the chest. The subject then fled in his vehicle. He abandoned his vehicle and carjacked a citizen, fatally shooting the driver. PO Lopez was transported to North Shore Long Island Jewish Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds. The subject was arrested several hours later and was suffering two self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He was identified as a former convict who had served four years for attempted murder. He was subsequently arrested, charged and convicted with two counts of first-degree murder for murdering PO Lopez and the civilian. PO Lopez served with the Department for 8 years and was assigned to the Emergency Services Unit. PO Lopez is survived by his parents and sister.
Police Officer Peter Martino
Date of Appointment: March 31, 1995
End of Watch: February 5, 2014, Age 45
PO Martino died from illnesses he contracted from inhaling toxic materials as he participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill. PO Martino served with the Department for 18 years. PO Martino is survived by his wife, and two children.
Police Officer Paul J. McCabe
Date of Appointment: August 21, 1968
End of Watch: September 25, 2015, Age 72
PO McCabe died from illnesses he contracted from inhaling toxic materials as he participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill. PO McCabe served with the Department for 47 years and was assigned to the Emergency Services Unit. PO McCabe is survived by his wife, and four children.
Lieutenant Michael Shea
Date of Appointment: 10/19/90
End of Watch: 4/1/17. Age: 52. Survived by wife.
Lt. Shea died from illnesses he contracted from inhaling toxic materials as he participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill. Lt. Shea is survived by his wife.
Police Officer Luis A. Palermo Jr.
Date of Appointment: 10/14/94
End of Watch 9/4/17. Age. 49
PO Palmero died from illnesses he contracted from inhaling toxic materials as he participated in the rescue and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The contamination in the air at the World Trade Center site caused many rescue personnel to become extremely ill. PO Palmerois survived by his wife, and three children.