Sunday, December 8, 2024
Anyone at the corner of Ewell Place and Cornelius Avenue in Wantagh will now see the name of Kenneth Rosello, an NYPD lieutenant and 9/11 first responder, following a street dedication held in his honor.
Rosello, who died in 2016 at age 64 from a 9/11-related illness, was raised in Elmont but spent over three decades living in Wantagh with his family. A dedicated public servant, he served 28 years with the NYPD.
The ceremony on Oct. 26 drew family, friends, community members, and public officials, including Congressman Anthony D’Esposito, Hempstead Town Councilman Chris Schneider, and Town Clerk Kate Murray. Reflecting on Rosello’s career, D’Esposito said he “represents everything that is good about the job and the career of law enforcement.”
“[Rosello] represents going to work every day and doing the right thing, making communities safer and ending each day knowing he made a difference,” D’Esposito said.
Retired NYPD inspector William Tartaglia, Rosello’s friend and former partner, shared stories of their years working together in the NYPD’s street crime and narcotics units.
“Kenny will always be my partner,” he said.
Tartaglia recounted the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, when he and Rosello, along with others from the department, watched the attacks unfold and mobilized to assist in the response. They drove through the closed Brooklyn Battery Outbound Tunnel, reaching the scene as the South Tower collapsed.
“We came out on the West Side Highway, and as we came out, here comes the building, down the West Side Highway,” Tartaglia recalled. “The rubble was coming down the highway with people running, and it was obviously chaotic.”
In the days following, Rosello and Tartaglia supported recovery efforts, though they only saw each other briefly in the mornings and at night.
“We were covered with soot and dirt and things like that, but we’d have a cup of coffee and talk a little bit,” Tartaglia said. “But he was off with his team, and they were out running around and doing what they were supposed to be doing.”
Rosello’s wife, Elaine, expressed her gratitude for the support of friends, family, and NYPD colleagues. She also thanked Councilman Schneider for helping make the dedication possible.
“I just want to thank everybody for coming today, and for everybody that helped,” she said.
Reflecting on Rosello’s impact, Tartaglia said his friend always had his back, and the street dedication was well deserved.
“I had him with me,” Tartaglia said, “and so I say this, I say we’ll never forget, my friend. You deserve this, my brother, and this will always be your own.”
