by William Demarest | | April 11, 2011

More than 400,000 calls for help answered annually by local dispatchers

More than 400,000 times a year Rocklanders dial 911 for a variety of emergencies, and the people who answer those calls are responsible for getting police, fire and medical help to the right place at the right time.

This morning, Rockland County paid tribute to local 911 dispatchers for their work as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and 911 Dispatchers Week in Rockland. Rockland County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef issued a proclamation today recognizing the dispatchers at an 11 a.m. ceremony at his offices in the Allison-Parris County Office Building in New City.

Among the dispatchers at the ceremony was Beverly Brooks, a 21-year veteran dispatcher with the Clarkstown Police Department, who in August 2010

Youth Court & Police Dispatchers Recognized

At its Tuesday night meeting, the Clarkstown Town Board recognized the achievements of the Clarkstown Youth Court and Police Dispatchers.

After 10 weeks of training the latest group of graduates from the Town's Youth Court Program was praised by Town Board members for their civic-mindedness.

Detective Malloy, Police Chief Michael Sullivan and Administrative Captain Anthony Ovchinnikoff presented certificates to the graduates: Simone Adler, Sam Askenas, Marc Bachner, Kevin Bertrand, Justin Breslow, Christopher Bunyan, Connor Burnich, Victoria Civisca, Isabelle Fisher, Julia Fisher, Daniel Friedman, Sam Friedman, Evan Halpern, Jonathan Herbstman, Colby Kash, Jonah Kelly, Jake Lindeman, George Lolo, Skyler Miller, Alex Montag, Kevin Munroe, Peter O’Neill, Gabrielle Pollard, Dylan Samuels and Benjamin Zwang.

Youth Court is a court of peers between the ages of 13 and 16 who are Clarkstown residents. Youth Court participants try, judge, defend and

Clarkstown Cops shave heads and raise $20,000 for cancer

On Sunday March 13, 2011 at Dominican College, the annual St. Baldrick's Fundraiser to raise money for childhood cancer research was held. Of the 300 or so participants at the event, more than 20 of them were members of the Clarkstown PBA and their families. Combined they raised about $20,000, the most of any of the 9 teams that participated in the event. 

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give surviviors long and healthy lives. What began as a challenge between friends has grown into the world's fastest growing volunteer-driven fundraising opportunity benefiting childhood cancer research.

Since its inception in 2000, the nonprofit organization has raised more than $100 million for childhood cancer research. The money is awarded through grant's to enable hundreds of local institutions to participate in national pediatric cancer clinical trials, a child's best hope for a cure. Since 2005, they have funded over $56.9 million in cancer research.

You can see the Clarkstown PBA Team page here: http://www.stbaldricks.org/teams/mypage/teamid/68303

by Robin Traum | | March 16, 2011

Ceremony marks promotion of Sullivan to police chief and Ovchinnikoff to captain.

Michael R. Sullivan was ceremonially promoted to Clarkstown Chief of Police and Anthony Ovchinnikoff was promoted to Administrative Captain at last night’s Clarkstown Town Board Meeting.  The Clarkstown Honor Guard and Rockland County Emerald Society started the ceremony and retiring Police Chief Peter T. Noonan welcomed the large crowd.

Sullivan was surrounded by family members as town Supervisor Alex Gromack administered the oath of office. Sullivan follows in the footsteps of his father, who retired as a lieutenant from the department. Sullivan worked for four years with the New York City Police Department before joining the Clarkstown Police Department in 1987. In 1995, he was promoted to sergeant, then to lieutenant and captain.

Ovchinnikoff, who was raised in Congers and graduated from Clarkstown North High School, began his law enforcement career with the New York City Transit Police in