Hoehmtown Happenings: Clarkstown Recognizes National Police Week

Every year, we honor National Police Week to offer our respect and gratitude to our fallen law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in serving and protecting our communities.  There are countless scenarios where the men and women in blue make someone’s life a little less stressful every day. Maybe your car broke down on the road and an office stopped to help keep you safe until a tow service arrived, or maybe your burglar alarm went off and an officer came by to make sure all was clear. These common day-to-day interactions comprise a good amount of what an officer does on a typical day, but it’s important for those of us in the public to remember that these men and women also put their lives on the line every time they report for duty. In 2025, 109 officers were killed in the line of duty in the U.S.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation designating May 15th as “Peace Officers Memorial Day,” and the week in which that date falls as “Police Week.” In 1984, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF) was established to fund and maintain a memorial to all our fallen officers.  The monument was officially dedicated on October 15, 1991 and is located in Judiciary Square in Washington, D.C. Visitors to the memorial can also attend the National Law Enforcement Museum nearby.

On Thursday, May 14, the Clarkstown Police Honor Guard, as it has done for many years, will travel to Washington and lead the procession at the national wreath laying ceremony. This great honor is a testimony to the fact that our police department is indeed highly regarded across the country. And while the honor guard is representing us down in Washington, we are experiencing a “changing of the guard” in the Clarkstown Police Department here at home.

This week, it seems fitting to offer my tremendous gratitude to newly-retired, former Chief Jeff Wanamaker and my heartfelt congratulations to our newest Chief, James Fay. Chief Fay was ceremonially and officially sworn in on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at a special meeting of the Town Board. Chief Fay has served the Town of Clarkstown Police Department for 32 years, encompassing every major operational and administrative facet of the agency. 

This includes extensive work in narcotics and organized crime, where he served as an investigator with the Rockland County Narcotics Task Force and the Anti-Crime Unit before being selected to establish and command the department’s Street Crime Unit. 

He also worked in the Juvenile Aid Bureau, where he handled sensitive matters involving family court and crimes against children. He spent over a decade as a member of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) and was a law enforcement first responder at the World Trade Center following the September 11 terrorist attacks. Throughout his career he has supervised patrol operations, the Field Training Program, and Special Operations units including K-9, Traffic, and Anti-Crime. A lifelong community member, Captain Fay’s local involvement includes serving as a founding member of the Greater Nanuet Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and graduating from the Leadership Rockland program.

One of Chief Fay’s first official public duties will be hosting the Clarkstown Police Department’s annual Police Recognition ceremony on Saturday, May 16th. The event runs from 9:00-10:00am and is held at Clarkstown Town Hall, in the Councilman John Maloney Auditorium, 10 Maple Ave., New City. Shortly after the town’s event,  another ceremony will be held at 11:00am at the Rockland County Police Memorial, which is located just outside the Rockland County Courthouse on Main Street in New City. I encourage everyone to attend one or both of these events.

More importantly, I ask everyone to pray for our law enforcement members who have paid the ultimate price and to thank those currently serving, who place themselves in harm’s way  to protect and serve our community.