A longtime Riverhead police detective is calling it a career after more than 31 years.
The department held a “walkout” ceremony last Thursday for Detective Frank Hernandez, during which he was greeted by past and current co-workers as he descended the stairs at police headquarters. On Jan. 30, Det. Dixon Palmer received the same treatment to mark his retirement after about 35 years on the job.
A Sept. 28, 2018, incident in which a Hampton Bays man smashed the windows of a pickup truck at the Riverhead Fire Department is not believed to be gang related, according to Riverhead Police Chief David Hegermiller. READ
Riverhead police dog Rocky was killed in action Sept. 2 after the vehicle K-9 officer John Morris was operating crashed during a police pursuit. The dog was 8 years old.
Following his death, more than 40 K-9 officers and their dogs attended the funeral procession Sept. 10 at Veterans Memorial Park in Calverton to honor the German shepherd killed in the line of duty. READ
The Riverhead Police Department is trying to determine the cause of a car fire that happened early Tuesday. READ
Riverhead Charter School Superintendent Ray Ankrum has been in charge of the running the K-8 school on Route 25 in Calverton since 2012.
But this year, he’s got another role: traffic control officer.
Mr. Ankrum spends about 45 minutes in the morning and 45 minutes in the afternoon directing traffic outside the school, wearing a bright orange vest and hat over his suit. READ
Late last month in Oklahoma, K-9 Smokey of the Nowata Police Department was killed when an intoxicated woman opened the back door of a police vehicle, allowing the dog to run into the roadway where he was struck by a truck. And in Texas earlier this month, K-9s Grunt and Neil, who were trained to track critically missing persons with dementia for the Refugio County Sheriff’s Office, were strangled to death by a suspect they were tracking. READ
Update (7 a.m.): Riverhead Police confirmed the road has reopened.
Original story: Portions of Old Country Road between Northville Turnpike and Doctors Path are closed in both directions due to an early morning car crash, downing wires across the roadway. READ
A Flanders woman is facing multiple charges following a string of crimes that occurred throughout Riverhead last month.
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