American Legion honors Rockville Centre police, emergency personnel

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Members of Rockville Centre’s police, fire and EMS departments were recognized last Friday by American Legion Post 303 for the commitment they have shown to the community. The post held its annual Law and Order Night, and presented an award to a member of each of the three departments.

Post Chairman Paul Casazza said that Law and Order Night is one of the “pinnacle events of the year” that members look forward to. “Our post takes great pleasure in honoring our law enforcement and emergency personnel,” Casazza said, “for their continued dedication and service to the Rockville Centre community.”

The law and order program, he added, “highlights the promotion of Americanism” and support of the Constitution, including the Second Amendment. The first award of the evening was presented to Police Officer John Murphy, who was given a custom M4 rifle engraved with his name and shield number, donated by Dark Storm Industries.

According to Police Commissioner James Vafeades, Murphy served in the Marine Corps for eight years, completing two tours of duty in Iraq and two in Afghanistan before joining the Police Department in 2014. He is a member of the traffic enforcement unit, and recently joined the firearms and training unit.

“From the start, he’s been a great asset,” Vafeades said of Murphy. “He has consistently been one of the department’s highest producers, if not the highest. For an officer with only six years under his belt, he has a lifetime’s worth of department awards, recognitions and high-quality arrests.”

Those awards include several Cop of the Month honors and a Cop of the Year recognition.

Post Commander Frank Colon presented the firematic award to Fire Department Honorary Chief William Ruckdeschel of Alert Co. No. 2, for his “exceptional service” to the community. Chief Eric Burel congratulated Ruckdeschel, who is retired from the Town of Hempstead Department of Safety, and thanked him for his dedication to the department.

“Bill has served for 48 years, and during that time he’s held every company office and served on every committee within his company,” Burel said. “He was also captain, lieutenant, chief fire inspector, fire inspector and truck committee chairman.”

The EMS award went to ex-Captain Dr. Neil Kirschen, a member of Floodlight Co. No. 1. He was introduced by fellow company member Dave Showerer. “It is with great pleasure,” Showerer said, “that the department nominates Neil for his tireless actions, and multiple roles he has worked in.”

Since joining the EMS department in 2003, Kirschen has served as captain and lieutenant of the company, and has been the department medical director. He is a member of the Regional Emergency Medical Services Counsel and the Regional Emergency Medical Services Advisory Committee.

“Through his actions, he has been keeping Floodlight and the department informed of all the updates and response protocols, helping to write the same protocols, [and] ensuring the training of the company’s EMT are held to the state and county standards,” Showerer said of Kirschen. “Especially during these difficult times, he has worked tirelessly, updating protocols that went into effect in the beginning of 2020, thereby keeping members safe while responding to patients during the [pandemic]. This policy and protocol update has streamlined advanced and basic emergency medical services care throughout the county, and is the first full update in nearly 30 years.”

In addition to his push to adopt statewide treatment protocols, Kirschen has helped create a new cohesive EMS system that has standardized care in New York state, Showerer said. “He is committed to the excellence of Nassau County Emergency Medical services,” Showerer added, “and led a state-of-the-art system that has and will save many lives.

“Since leaving the company office,” Showerer continued, “he has continued to provide care, guidance and standards that ensure the village of RVC residents receive the best care and services in the field of EMS.”

Kirschen said he became an EMT in 1974, then went on to medical school and became an anesthesiologist. He has a practice in Oceanside. Around 2002, he said, he looked into becoming an auxiliary police officer, but was directed to the Fire Department and volunteered as a physician. He also became the police surgeon for the Police Department in 2003.

“It’s been a good run,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun and met a lot of good people.”

Kirschen said he had “stepped back” a bit until the pandemic spread. “When Covid hit us, it was very challenging dealing with our Rockville Centre population,” he said. “Thank God things have now quieted down a bit. I think we’re going to get back into action.”