Officers named “Top Cops” by Nassau County PBA
Nassau County Police Department officers Brian Coleman and Michael Passarelli were selected as the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association’s “Top Cops” last month for their quick thinking during a recent phone scam in Seaford.
The pair of officers were recognized at the Nassau County Legislature meeting on Feb. 28. PBA president Tom Shevlin provided a presentation on the awardees at the meeting.
“If not for these officers’ quick response, and quick-thinking, this criminal could have scammed this victim out of thousands of dollars and will think twice next time before stealing money from our senior citizens,” Shevlin said.
On Jan. 20, the officers responded to a report of a suspicious call in Seaford. As previously reported by the Herald, 73-year-old Jean Ebbert, of Seaford, received a series of scam phone calls indicating her grandson was in jail and she would need to hand-deliever $8,000 in cash to a bail bondsman for a lawyer.
Ebbert, a retired 911 call dispatcher for the Nassau County Police Department, decided to turn the tables on the suspected scammer. She contacted county police out of an abundance of caution, she said previously. Coleman and Passarelli responded.
After additional calls, Ebbert was asked to put the $8,000 in an envelope and hand it to a bondsman who would be arriving at her house. “I look at the cops, the cops look at me, and one of them goes flying out the door to move his patrol car down to the firehouse,” Ebbert recounted to the Herald. The other officer also moved his vehicle out of sight. Both officers waited inside Ebbert’s home with her until the suspect arrived.
Ebbert handed the scammer a sealed manila envelope — stuffed with paper towels — and as he turned to leave, he was tackled by the officers.
Legislator Rose Marie Walker, who governs District 17, thanked Coleman and Passarelli for their efforts. “You may think this was not putting yourself in harm’s way, dealing with this specific incident, but you didn’t know if the individual who was caught had a firearm, a knife. This could’ve become a larger issue than just a scam,” she said.
The County frequently releases newsletters reminding senior citizens not to fall for phone scams – but it’s different when you believe your family is at risk, Walker said.
“I’m a grandmother. It’s one thing being a mom and worrying about your children, but when you think one of your grandkids is in trouble, you would really do anything to try to help them,” Walker said. “Thank God this woman was smart enough, too, to reach out.”
“Thank you for winning one for the good guys,” Legislator Steve Rhoads, who governs District 19, told the pair. “The scams that are out there are a plague to our community and, unfortunately, many of our elderly residents fall victim to that...your hard work has probably saved many individuals from falling victim to the same type of scam.”
Coleman and Passarelli both thanked the Legislature for the recognition and said they are proud to serve Nassau County and the community.
