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Village Police Promote Four, Hire One

Thu, 04/27/2023 - 10:29
Durell Godfrey

Four East Hampton Village police officers were promoted at Friday’s village board meeting as proud family members looked on.

Lt. Jeffrey Erickson was promoted to captain; Sgt. Jack Bartelme is now a lieutenant, and officers Matthew Kochanasz and Wayne Gauger were promoted to sergeant.

Police Chief Michael Tracey, second from right in the photo above, awarded the promotions. In addition, the department also appointed a new full-time officer, Brandon S. Esposito.

Posing with family after the meeting were, from left, Sergeant Gauger, Sergeant Kochanasz, Lieutenant Bartelme, and Captain Erickson, whose brother, Suffolk County Police Officer Christopher Erickson, is at the far right. 

On the Police Logs 04.10.25

Ticketed for an open container Friday night on Springs-Fireplace Road, a man walked behind the squad car and began urinating on a tree in plain sight of the officer. When the officer approached him, the man shoved the ticket at him and ran away.

Apr 10, 2025

Two Drunken Driving Charges

A driver who sustained an injury to his shoulder in an accident on the evening of April 2 was charged afterward with misdemeanor drunken driving.

Apr 10, 2025

Cocaine Found in a Cadillac

A vial with 1.17 grams of a “white powdery substance” was allegedly found on the driver of a 2019 Cadillac Escalade on Sunday. A “multi-drug” test determined the substance to be cocaine, police said.

Apr 10, 2025

Town Police Officer Is Terminated

The East Hampton Town Board approved a resolution Tuesday to fire Police Officer Andrea Kess, a move her attorney said was payback for her own complaints against the Police Department.

Apr 3, 2025

 

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