By Amanda Moses
Former NYPD Deputy Chief and Department of Public Safety Director Vincent A. DeMarino passed away on December 6, 2019, succumbing to cancer one year after being diagnosed (he was 61 years old.) The cancer was believed to be incurred after his service at the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.
His steadfast work ensuring the safety and quality of life of Spring Creek Towers and his dedicated 27-year tenure as a member of the NYPD was greatly admired by the community and his fellow officers.
On August 5, NYPD officials and members of the DeMarino’s family gathered at Parkwold Drive South in North Valley Stream to commemorate the life of Vincent DeMarino by renaming a street after him.
The dedication ceremony prior to the unveiling of the commemorative sign featured the NYPD Ceremonial Unit Color Guard, a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem by Police Office Brianna Fernandez, and remarks from NYPD Sergeant Kevin Heavy, Council member Anthony D’Esposito, Deputy Chief Cassato, Supervisor Don Calvin Jr. Councilman Bruce Blakeman, NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, and NYPD Detective Vincent M. DeMarino.
In 2017, DeMarino spoke with the Spring Creek Sun about a basketball game between DPS officers and community youth, “I have never had a more gratifying day as the Director of Public Safety than this one. Watching our Public Safety officers interact so well with our community, especially our youth, is the essence of the Community Policing/Public Service model we now follow since my appointment as Director. We view Public Safety as a shared responsibility between the Department and the community we serve. Events like this help us all to build unbreakable bonds of trust and collaboration.”
Photo courtesy of DPS
