Nassau County Police Officer Rory Kerley and his K-9 partner, Shammy, were honored by East Meadow American Legion Post 1082 on April 10, for tracking down a drunk driving suspect in the fatal hit-and-run death of Daniel Bliss last October.
Bliss, 63, a North Bellmore resident and an East Meadow Sons of the American Legion member, was struck while riding a motorcycle on North Jerusalem Road, and was pronounced dead at the scene.
During the Legion’s Law & Order ceremony held at the Legion’s headquarters on Bellmore Road, Kerley and Shammy received a plaque from the American Legion, along with a citation and certificates from several local government officials. Shammy also received an honorary vest from the American Legion Riders, a motorcycle division of the veterans’ service organization.
Kerley expressed tremendous pride in Shammy’s work, as he reflected on the search and its outcome.
“I was excited that the dog did his job, even though there (were) obstacles in the way,” Kerley said, detailing that the duo had to jump over a fence to continue their search, following the crash. “I was relieved because I ultimately knew what had happened at the accident.”
Patrick Thompson, 59, of Levittown, was recently sentenced to six to 18 years in prison, following a guilty plea for aggravated vehicular homicide.
Members of the American Legion expressed sadness over the loss of Bliss’s life and were upset with the prison term.
“I wasn’t pleased with the sentence,” Mark Papagni, commander of the Sons of the American Legion, said. “He intentionally got in that car. I’m sure it wasn’t his intention to kill Danny, but he did. Danny can never see his family, never be with his fiancée.”
Bliss’s fiancée, Raquel Osteikoetxea, was in tears during the ceremony, but said the tribute reflected the kind of person Bliss was and the impact he had on those around him.
“He would be so proud to have seen Shammy with the jacket,” Osteikoetxea said. “That is a gift to him, a tailor-made event for Danny. I cannot think of a better way to honor Danny than to have Shammy, a proud K-9, wear a Riders jacket.”
Bliss was not a veteran himself but gained membership through his father. He only joined the Sons of the American Legion last May but made an immediate impact on the organization. Legion members at the ceremony shared memories of Bliss’s willingness to help others and his deep ties to the community.
Papagni said that in Bliss’s short time with the organization, he came to the rescue of a woman whose car had flipped in a bad accident and helped one of the American Legion’s bartenders whose basement had flooded. A plumber by trade, Bliss was planning to help refurbish the American Legion post’s headquarters.
“He made an impact right away,” Papagni said.
Michael Caputo, assistant director of the American Legion Riders, said he felt an immediate connection with Bliss.
“Everybody hit it off with him,” Caputo said. “We all felt that we knew him for a long time. We hung out a lot and did a lot of stuff together — we’re grateful for him.”
The ceremony, held in memory of Bliss, was organized to recognize Kerley and Shammy for their work in the case. The pair received citations from Nassau County Legislator Tom McKevitt, Town of Hempstead Councilman Dennis Dunne, State Sen. Steve Rhoads and Assemblyman John Mikulin.
Rhoads, who previously served as a captain in the Wantagh Fire Department, said he has known Kerley, the son of a former fire lieutenant, for more than 20 years. Rhoads added that Kerley’s recognition came as no surprise.
“I wasn’t surprised, one, when Rory decided to become a police officer,” Rhoads said. “And I’m not surprised that he is here tonight for having done amazing work that I knew he was capable of and know that he does every single day protecting and serving the people of Nassau County.”
Shammy quickly became the focus of attention during the ceremony, with many in attendance drawn to the K-9’s role in the case. Rhoads joked that “Shammy was the one who did the heavy lifting.”
Kerley, who has worked with Shammy for seven years, affectionally calls him by his nickname, Rock, and emphasized the bond between handler and dog.
“I’m just happy my dog does his job, that’s it,” Kerley said. “Best partner in the police department.”
