Robert Connolly, head of Nassau Homeland Security, wins education award

Lt. Robert Connolly, commanding officer of Homeland Security for the Nassau County Police Department, is being lauded by Nassau Boces as one of the most devoted supporters of public education on Long Island.

Connolly is among 14 honorees to receive the 2024 Nassau Boces Education Partner award, which is bestowed annually on individuals and organizations that Boces believes have had a profound effect on education in Nassau County.

Connolly personally responds to school safety issues on an around-the-clock basis. He manages the NCPD School Resource Coordinator Program, providing training for students, educators and the public on recognizing and reporting suspicious activity.

He established an emergency notification system designed specifically to alert and update superintendents on county-wide emergency issues. On top of that, he runs the Situational Awareness For Educators program, the Actions and Consequences program for teens, and Second Shift training for extra-curricular programs.

Connolly was honored at an awards gala last Tuesday, May 7, by the Nassau Boces Educational Foundation. The Foundation is an independent non-profit organization that raises funds for educational programs that fall outside of the agency’s budget.

Boces created the awards program to recognize those who share its mission of ensuring a “successful, challenging, caring and safe environment that enables students of all ages and abilities to achieve their maximum potential,” administration said. These individuals and organizations have made strides in accomplishing key educational goals embraced by Boces, such as ensuring student success.

The county’s Homeland Security division, under the direction of Connolly, has made local school districts — and the children they rely on them — a top priority, Boces administration said, and he is devoted to keeping them safe.

The NCPD Homeland Security’s specialized team of officers is specifically assigned to assist school districts in response to issues outside their daily routine, such as the Covid-19 pandemic and threat assessment, as well as their impacts on mental health. The division also addresses security, emergency response, and the training of students and staff on these issues.

The division routinely conducts school security assessments and provides in-district safety training. They also attend monthly meetings of the Nassau County school superintendents' safety subcommittee to review school district concerns and update superintendents on emerging issues.

The lieutenant created a cross-sectional Threat Assessment Team for county schools. It consists of law enforcement and educators, as well as numerous representatives from federal, state, and local partners. This team serves to better enable schools to prepare for potential threats, and to address those threats immediately and from numerous perspectives. The newly-developed Nassau County Threat Advisory Committee, or NASTAC, works with the Threat Assessment Team to provide training and advise on best practices.

“Lt. Robert Connolly’s efforts allow Nassau County school districts to enjoy a level of safety and security that is considered to be one of the best in the nation,” wrote his award nominator. “He is greatly respected by all school district leaders, and has the gratitude of educators and students alike.”