Hundreds of mourners remember Riverhead police officer
Hundreds of people gathered at the Old Steeple Community Church in Aquebogue Saturday morning to pay their respects to 42-year-old Riverhead Town police officer Benjamin Goodale, who died of an apparent heart attack Oct. 15.
Uniformed Riverhead Police officers stood in formation and members of Eastern Long Island Police Pipes and Drums played as Mr. Goodale’s casket was carried into the church. Riverhead Town councilwoman Jodi Giglio was among the mourners present at the 11 a.m. funeral service.
Mr. Goodale, a Calverton resident and 17-year veteran of the police force, leaves behind his wife, Katherine, and their two young children. His death comes just one week following the untimely passing of longtime Riverhead Police Detective Robert Boden, who died Oct. 7 at the age of 54 after suffering a pulmonary embolism.
At the Riverhead homecoming football game a few hours later, Mr. Goodale — a 1990 Riverhead graduate who wore No. 63 on the football team — was honored with a moment of silence.
