Surprise adieu for Civilian Patrol chief

It was a serene Thursday evening when a small but lively crowd gathered inside the village’s community center.

Some were clad in Valley Stream Civilian Patrol uniforms, but all awaited the arrival of their leader, Ralph Polverino. On the agenda? To give their outgoing president a surprise send-off.

People hushed down as they heard the incoming footsteps. The moment they stopped, the sound was replaced with roaring applause.

A silver-haired Polverino, who joined the Civilian Patrol in the early years after its inception in the 1980s, looked on with a gentle smile.

After 27 years of non-consecutive service as president, Polverino stepped from his mantle last Thursday. But, at least according to patrol treasurer George Catalanotto, the 89-year-old isn’t going far. Polverino will remain a member of the group’s executive board, filling in as needed as vice president and operations director.

If you’ve ever seen a vehicle marked “Valley Stream Civilian Patrol” cruising slowly through neighborhood streets, you’ve likely seen Polverino or one of a few dozen members of the board on their patrol beat, keeping a watchful eye on the community. 

But they are not a law enforcement agency, Catalanotto said. In fact, the organization doesn’t have the authority to issue tickets or make arrests. They can’t even step on private property without the owner’s permission, and cannot break traffic laws while on patrol.

“We are basically a neighborhood watch group,” Catalanotto said. “We patrol all the streets in Valley Stream. We use our own cars.”

If they do spot suspicious activity, members call 911 and then report it to two other Civilian Patrol members who log the incident for the organization’s records.

“We are a set of eyes and ears for the neighborhood,” Catalanotto said. “We try to keep people safe.”

The watch group patrols mornings, afternoons and evenings, covering all areas of the incorporated village, and even some portions outside the village, including the senior living communities. While their key role is to watch and report, they also help find missing people and pets, and often help patrol schools and village events.

When not on patrol, members also host safety tip classes and seminars on a range of topics from how to avoid locking your keys in the car, to the proper ways to safely walk and leash your dog.

The group’s dwindling membership over the past years has been a concern, said  Barry Chin, a long-time Civilian Patrol member, who will take the reins from Polverino.

“I want to keep this association and volunteers going and get as many members as possible,” Chin said. “In the ‘80s, they had like 200 members, and every night there were dozens of people going on patrol. But now people’s lives have become more fast-paced, and it’s difficult when families are working around the clock.”

Chin and his board are taking steps to expand their recruitment efforts and welcome a new crop of Civilian Patrol volunteers.

“I came to Valley Stream with my family in the 1960s,” Polverino said. “Even though some called that time the good old days, even then we had problems with the school and the community, so one day I decided to join the Civilian Patrol, and I’m glad I did.”

The watch group, noted Polverino, was founded by a group of neighbors who saw a need to take an active role in lessening crimes in their community and creating a sense of safety for their neighbors.

“It makes you feel good” when you act to make the community safe, Polverino noted. He is glad Chin will take over, citing family and health concerns that require him to slow down, but will continue to serve as a member as long as he can.

“Ralph has done such a great job,” said patrol member Maria Ottomanelli. “He’s just passionate about the community and people, and I’m sure Barry will also do a great job. Having good people and having people that care motivates me to keep serving.”