{"id":121510,"date":"2024-08-02T13:20:14","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T17:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/?p=121510"},"modified":"2024-08-02T13:20:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T17:20:15","slug":"ed-frost-sworn-in-as-new-chief-of-the-riverhead-police-department","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/riverheadnewsreview.timesreview.com\/2024\/08\/121510\/ed-frost-sworn-in-as-new-chief-of-the-riverhead-police-department\/","title":{"rendered":"Ed Frost sworn in as new chief of the Riverhead Police Department"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What looked to be the entirety of the Riverhead Police force showed out for the momentous swearing in of their brother in blue, Lt. Edward Frost, as the new chief of the department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Frost teared up at the sight of his supportive fellow officers and the look of pride of his family \u2014 wife Janine and sons Eddie, Garett and Kyle \u2014 in the audience at the special Town Board meeting on Wednesday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I would like to thank everyone that showed up here today to support this promotion. I look forward to working with you guys all closely \u2014 I probably supervised most of you throughout my time,” Mr. Frost said to the officers in the room. “I’ll do the best I can and I’m sure I’ll do well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The promotion by the Town Board followed the approval of Chief David Hegermiller’s<\/a> retirement, who served in the role for the last 23 years and worked in the department for a total of 42 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard wished Mr. Hegermiller luck on his retirement and praised the former chief on how he led the department during “uncharted territory” at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. This included Mr. Hegermiller’s effort to schedule vaccinations for first responders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I think the Riverhead Police Department \u2014 I don’t mean to insult any of our other agencies that are here \u2014 is one of the finest police departments around, and that credit goes right to the top, and it should,” Mr. Hubbard said. “[Mr. Hegermiller] really ran the town for quite a time, along with running the police department, and I will forever be grateful for him getting us through COVID.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr. Hegermiller was not present at the special town board meeting for his retirement. The former chief has not responded to multiple requests for an interview. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vote to appoint Mr. Frost to chief was unanimous between Mr. Hubbard, Councilwoman Joann Waski and Coucilwoman Denise Merrifield, with council members Robert Kern and Kenneth Rothwell absent. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s been long time coming,” Mr. Hubbard said to the new police chief. “You’ve been a dedicated member of our department for 31 years and you’ve always worked your hardest at doing your job, and many of the men and women have worked directly underneath you were so ecstatic when they knew we were making you the next chief of police.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Along with the town board, Ms. Waski congratulated Mr. Frost as well and encouraged him to “savor this moment.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am part of the police family in more ways than than one and I know that you’re going to do exceptional things, and you are going to be the leader that you’ve proven to be in the past,” Ms. Waski said. “I have never seen the morale that’s in this room like it is today.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n