Echoes of applause and cheers were heard at Glen Cove’s City Hall on May 9 as the City Council voted to hire three new police officers. Officers Erasmo Troia, Andres Sicam and Jahrae O’Neill were sworn in by Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck as their friends, family and fellow community members beamed with pride.
Before swearing in the new officers, Panzenbeck credited the Glen Cove Police Department as a major factor to the city’s placement on Money.com's top places to live in the nation. According to Crimegrade.org, Glen Cove is home to a low crime rate, and is safer than 98 percent of U.S. cities, with the chances of being a victim of a crime as low as one in 203 in the northern part of the city.
“I have to think that the police department is a major part of why people like to live here, and you gentlemen are so blessed, you’re joining a wonderful group of men and women,” Panzenbeck said. “It’s a real brotherhood, they all watch out for one another.”
Andres Sicam
Sicam, 24, always knew he wanted a career in law enforcement, but many will recognize him for his commitment to and high level of involvement in the city’s school district, from which he graduated in 2018. He received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from SUNY Cortland and his master’s degree in health education from SUNY Brockport. He worked for the city’s YMCA as a counselor from 2015 to 2022, and in 2020 he became a part-time physical education teacher at the city’s school district. He was promoted to work full-time as a physical education teacher in 2022.
Sicam has been highly involved in the city’s youth sports program, having coached varsity football, junior varsity football, and middle school basketball. Now, he’s eager to help keep the community safe.
“I always took pride in being from Glen Cove, and I see myself staying here forever,” Sicam said. “I do want to raise a family here someday. I always wanted to be a part of something that helped take care of the place that you love.”
Barring any potential scheduling conflicts, Sicam said he wants to help coach for the city’s school district again.
Jahrae O’Neill
O’Neill is also a familiar face in Glen Cove and a graduate of the city’s school district. The 27-year-old received his bachelor of arts degree in criminology from SUNY Old Westbury in 2019 and worked with the city’s youth bureau for three years. In 2015, he began working at the Boys and Girls Club, where he assisted youths with their homework and physical fitness. The sports enthusiast still plays baseball, softball, and basketball.
He hopes that his career will help the city’s youth understand they can become what they want to be when they grow up with hard work and determination. He also hopes to inspire those who want to help the community.
Erasmo Troia
Troia, 27, knew he wanted to help people from a young age. While growing up in Old Brookville, he spent most of his time in the Nassau County Police Explorers program and volunteered with the Gleenwood Fire Department before graduating from the North Shore School District in 2014. He attended Nassau Community College from 2014 to 2017 and received his associate’s degree in criminal justice.
During Troia’s tenure with the New York Police Department, he removed numerous amounts of narcotics off the streets. One of his career highlights includes an arrest in June of 2021, in which he responded to a shooting between two alleged drug dealers. He brought both suspects into custody without discharging his weapon.
Troia was praised for having over 100 arrests, while also bringing five years of experience from the 104th precinct, which covers western Queens. He served in the anti-crime unit and was recognized as the precinct’s cop of the month five times.
Glen Cove’s police department prides itself on having their officers heavily involved in the community.
“My hope is that you’ll have long careers full of opportunities to enforce the law, but not just enforce the law, but to also help people,” Glen Cove Police Chief William Whitton said. “Sometimes that’s even more important. That’s what we do here in Glen Cove; we help people a lot.”