Two members of the East Hampton Village Police Department have been promoted and the village board’s longtime lawyer is retiring, it was announced at Friday’s meeting of the village board. As of Tuesday, Lt. Anthony Long will be promoted to captain and Sgt. Gregory Brown to lieutenant, and Linda Riley will retire.
“These are two very important positions within the police department,” said Richard Lawler, the board member who serves as police commissioner. “Not only do they make decisions when the chief is unavailable, but they also give the chief advice regarding staffing, disciplinary issues, and placement of personnel in regard to crime patterns and quality of life issues in the village.”
Police Chief Michael Tracey said both Mr. Long and Mr. Brown, who is the husband of Rose Brown, a trustee, were known for their dedication to the department and their positive attitudes. “I don’t do this job by myself,” he said. “I do it with a team.”
Mr. Lawler pinned a new shield on Mr. Long, but for Mr. Brown, that honor was given to his father, Ken Brown, who served in the department for 36 years, also earning the rank of lieutenant. The elder Mr. Brown affixed the same shield he had worn on duty to his son’s jacket.
Later in the meeting, Mayor Paul F. Rickenbach Jr. announced that Ms. Riley, who has been a lawyer for the village for 20 years, would retire as of Tuesday.
“You set a very high bar for your colleagues in municipal governance, and we’re going to miss you,” the mayor said. He presented her with a certificate of appreciation and a large arrangement of flowers on behalf of the board.
“It’s been such a pleasure working with everybody,” said Ms. Riley, who is also leaving her position as counsel to the village’s zoning board of appeals. “It’s been such an enjoyable experience, which is why I stayed 20 years.”
Beth Baldwin, who has been an East Hampton Town attorney for 11 years, will be the board’s new lawyer. She will start on Oct. 15.
In other business, the board resolved to request $132,225 from the town’s community preservation fund for the installation of a low-nitrogen septic system for the restroom at Herrick Park.