The Town of North Hempstead’s newly hired commissioner of public safety was allegedly involved in an alcohol skimming scheme while a New York City sheriff, according to The City publication.
One resident questioned the town board’s hiring of Derek Skuzenski as the town’s commissioner of public safety in May with an annual salary of $140,000.
North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jenniffer DeSena declined to comment on the public safety commissioner because it is a personnel issue. but his hiring.
“I can say that Mr. Skuzenski was vetted and cleared by New York City,” DeSena said. “And he is a Town of North Hempstead resident.”
According to The City, Skuzenski was one of the dozen Department of Finance sheriffs allegedly involved in a scheme where they drank liquor confiscated during pandemic bar raids.
The bottles were stored in a storage container in Long Island City, with boxes blocking surveillance cameras. The Department of Investigation said the alcohol was then used for “personal use or gain,” The City reported.
The City obtained the investigative file on the incident via a Freedom of Information Law request.
Skuzenski was one of the 12 sheriffs suspended for 30 days without pay due to their involvement, according to The City.
The Department of Investigations substantiated the evidence, but the Queens District Attorney declined to prosecute the case, The City reported.
The District Attorney spokesperson said they did not have “legally sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges” after an investigation, The City reported.
The City reported that Skuzenski resigned before his internal disciplinary case was presented to an administrative law judge.
North Hempstead spokesperson Umberto Mignardi said the town conducted its “customary due diligence” in hiring Skuzenski. This included checking employment records, calling references and interviewing Skuzenski multiple times.
Mignardi said his letters of recommendation were impressive and that the town felt comfortable hiring him at the time of his employment.
“At no time did we note any cause for concern,” Mignardi said, also mentioning Skuzenski’s recent promotion from lieutenant to chief. “Nonetheless, we do take any allegations about town employees very seriously and we investigated these reporter’s claims.”
He said the town was not aware before the initial reporting by The City publication.
While Mignardi said the town is further investigating the issue, he said Suzenski’s actions were never substantiated previously.
At the public portion of the town meeting, another resident complained about the town’s decision not to fly the pride flag for the entire month of June,
The resident asked the board if the pride flag, which represents the LGBTQ+ community, would be flown for the entire month after being raised just moments before the meeting Tuesday night.
For the first time in years, DeSena said it won’t. Instead, DeSena said the flag will fly for a few days.
DeSena said the flag wouldn’t fly for the full month to create continuity with other recognized holidays, which have a shorter duration. She compared it to Organ Donation Month in April when the flag associated with it was not flown for the entire month.
She said the town flag pole is primarily for the American and POW/MIA flags.
DeSena said in flying the pride flag for a few days it still recognizes Pride Month for the LGBTQ+ community.
The resident who asked the question disagreed and said it should fly the whole month. She said she was not happy with the decision.
Town Councilmember Mariann Dalimonte agreed with the resident. She said it has flown for the entire month for the last three years.
Town Councilmember Dennis Walsh defended the decision.
“Shouldn’t it be consistent with what everybody else gets?” Walsh asked.
In other news, the board approved various resolutions Tuesday night.
These included paying $2.5 million for a personal injury lawsuit settlement, awarding a bid for lot reconstruction at Tully Park in New Hyde Park, and establishing an agreement with a veterinarian for a voucher program to spay and neuter cats.
The board did discuss a resolution authorizing a memorandum of understanding with the Long Island Rail Road but opted to table the decision until July.
The memorandum would permit the Long Island Rail Road to conduct a survey at the Port Washington station to determine changes needed.
Dalimonte asked to table the decision after multiple residents contacted her hours before the meeting to question the resolution. She suggested a community meeting to inform residents before a decision is made.
The North Hempstead Town Board will convene again at 10 a.m. on June 11 for its public hearings.
