On the evening of June 4, I attended a meeting of the Town of North Hempstead Board.  Due to the public comment period being just 30 minutes in length, I was not selected to speak.

I requested speaking time to address an issue revealed within an article in the publication The City. The piece detailed a disturbing probe conducted by the NYC Department of Investigation which found a group of sheriffs confiscated alcohol from unlicensed bars and clubs during the COVID pandemic and proceeded to consume them in a secret shed within a city government facility.  Not only was the alcohol drunk by these sheriffs, but premeditated measures were taken to block video surveillance of the alleged impropriety.

My dismay quickly turned to revulsion when I learned one of the sheriffs allegedly involved was Derek Skuzenski, our new Commissioner of Public Safety!  While Mr. Skuzenski escaped disciplinary action and resigned his position in Queens, the Town of North Hempstead still hired him at a salary of $140,000.  The Town’s statement to The City indicated it did its “customary due diligence” and would “investigate these claims further.”

If I had the opportunity to reach the lectern, I would have urged the Board to take up the matter that night, place Mr. Skuzenski on leave immediately and appoint an interim commissioner until the investigation’s findings were made public.  Instead, Supervisor DeSena weakly parroted the official statement while declaring Skuzenski was a town resident vetted and cleared by New York City.

Publicly punting on this problem does irrevocable harm not just to the residents but to the reputation of our town and I fear we will not attract viable candidates for these important positions in the future.

Scott Wolff

Town of North Hempstead