Congresswoman Laura Gillen toured the Village of Malverne Police Department on July 24, meeting with Police Chief Thomas Martini, PBA President Sgt. Castellano and Officer McCoy to discuss public safety priorities, tour the department’s new headquarters and participate in a ride-along through the village.
During the visit, department leaders briefed Gillen on the challenges facing local law enforcement, including staffing, resources and public safety needs, while discussing ways Congress and the federal government can provide additional support for municipal police departments.
“Thank you to Police Chief Tom Martini, Officer McCoy and the Malverne PBA for their dedication and service to our community,” Gillen said. “It was valuable to hear directly about the challenges they face and discuss how I can continue advocating for them in Washington. Whether it’s supporting critical COPS Hiring grant funding or helping secure the resources our officers need to keep themselves and our communities safe, I will continue working for our law enforcement and the families they protect.”
“On behalf of the members of the Malverne Police Department, I would like to thank Congresswoman Gillen for taking the time to visit our department and meet with us,” Martini said. “We truly appreciate her willingness to learn more about our operations and the needs of our department. We value her support and commitment to understanding the issues affecting local law enforcement and look forward to working together in the future.”
The visit was part of Gillen’s ongoing effort to meet directly with first responders throughout New York’s 4th Congressional District. In recent months, she has also toured the Hempstead, Freeport and Lynbrook police departments, meeting with officers to discuss the challenges facing local law enforcement agencies and ways the federal government can support their work.
Since taking office, Gillen has advocated for additional federal funding for public safety initiatives in Nassau County. As a member of the bipartisan Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, she introduced the Officer Wellness and Peer Support Act and has co-sponsored the Protect and Serve Act, Invest to Protect Act and HERO Act, legislation intended to strengthen officer recruitment, improve mental health resources and provide additional support for law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
