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New Shelter Island police officer sworn in

By Julia Brennan

MARY ELLEN McGAHEY PHOTO Andrew Graffagnino is flanked by his father, Shelter Island Board of Education President Thomas Graffagnino (right), a former New York City police officer, and his grandfather, Robert Martin (left), a retired Nassau County police officer, outside Police Headquarters after he was sworn in during the Town Board meeting May 12.
MARY ELLEN McGAHEY PHOTO Andrew Graffagnino is flanked by his father, Shelter Island Board of Education President Thomas Graffagnino (right), a former New York City police officer, and his grandfather, Robert Martin (left), a retired Nassau County police officer, outside Police Headquarters after he was sworn in during the Town Board meeting May 12.

If you wanted to break the law undetected on Shelter Island, last Friday around 4:30 p.m. was your chance, Supervisor Jim Dougherty said to the crowd gathered at Town Hall.

That’s when the 12-member police force turned out in dress uniform for the swearing in of Andrew Graffagnino, the department’s new full-time officer.

He was welcomed with warm applause as his grandfather, a retired Nassau County police officer, stepped up to pin on his grandson’s badge.

Officer Graffagnino’s father, Shelter Island Board of Education President Thomas Graffagnino, is a former New York City police officer.

The newly-minted officer has worked for the department for two years in a part-time capacity during peak summer hours and filling in off season, said Chief of Police Jim Read.

“Andrew is an excellent addition to the police department and has a proven affinity for the community that he has sworn to protect and serve,” Chief Read said. “The police department is looking foward to his next 25 years of service.”

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