COBA Widows and Childrens Committee Memorial Ceremony

Dear COBA Members/Retirees;

Tomorrow marks the end of National Correction Officers Week.

A week dedicated in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan to recognize and honor the hard and unsung work of Correction Officers Nationwide. This has been quite a week for us in Nassau County Corrections with Member's loss of family, and the loss of Retired Officer Derek Bullock. This has also obviously been quite a year, as COVID took its toll with thankfully no Officers lost on our job, though several lost family and friends.

Yesterday, our Widows and Childrens Committee conducted our Annual solemn Memorial Ceremony to remember those of our Members who died in the Line of Duty and those who passed while in Active Service. We also honored on our new granite Monument, Members who passed from 911 Related Illness. To date, those Members include Sgt. Mark Baxter, Officer Larry Lamme', and the most recent addition, Sgt. Kevin Nuckel. We all hope that these are the last names inscribed on our Monuments as Line of Duty and 911 related.

We lost several members of the COBA family since our last Memorial Ceremony, including Lt. Mike Citrin, CO Melvin Hampton, Ret. CO Robert Kettrick, Ret. CO James McCann, Ret. Sgt. Joe Greaver, Ret. Sgt. Kevin Nuckel, former CO Eric Contreras, Ret. Capt. Frank Colletti and Ret. CO Kevin Coyle. Along with civilian friends Med Tech Frank Clarke, Nurse Marlene Costello and Correction Cook Gene Dybus.

As usual our Widows and Childrens Board did an incredible job preparing the Monument site for yesterday's event that was attended by several dignitaries and our Department Members.

Our Honor Guard as always was professional, sharp and on point, representing us proudly. Our Fraternal Organizations presented wreaths in memory of those lost. The Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipe and Drum Band along with US Army Lt. Col. Lou DiLeo who concluded the ceremony, all showed the family members in attendance immense respect and were greatly appreciated.

Corrections is one of the toughest jobs in Law Enforcement.

Our Members, and especially those that died in the line of duty, and those who passed while in service deserve all the respect in the world. As do our families who put up with a lot. Long hours, missed birthdays and holidays. And most importantly, the stress of the job that we carry with us.

Never forget our Brothers and Sisters who have gone on before us.

Please see several photos below of yesterday's ceremony.

Always in Unity;

Brian Sullivan, COBA President