Chief Jeffrey Erickson of the East Hampton Village Police Department announced the hiring of two officers at the village board’s meeting on Friday. The hirings, both effective today, bring the department to full strength, he said.
Matthew Lush, a Kings Park native who lives in Quogue, graduated from the Suffolk County Police Academy in March 2024. Since then he has worked part time for the Southampton Town Police Department. “It is a pleasure to have Matthew come to our ranks,” the chief said. “He has been highly recommended.” The chief issued him Badge No. 92 at the meeting.
Also hired but not in attendance on Friday was Anthony Baiardi, who attended Suffolk Community College. He worked as a New York City corrections officer from 2018 to 2021, graduated from the Police Academy in 2022, and, starting in March 2023, worked for the State University police at the Stony Brook Southampton campus.
At Friday’s meeting, Mary Mott, the village’s emergency medical service chief, and Gerry Turza, the fire and E.M.S. administrator, recognized several volunteer and paid emergency personnel for quick action during emergency calls.
Anthony Carlo and Dominic Guida, paramedics, were recognized for their actions during two calls on April 26, 2024, one regarding a person in cardiac arrest and another involving someone who had fallen and then experienced respiratory and cardiac failure while being transported to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital.
Two other paramedics, Steven Montalto and Theresa Reynolds, First Assistant Chief Mary Ellen McGuire, and Ms. Mott were acknowledged for their efforts in rescuing a 7-year-old boy who had fallen into the water, along with his father and uncle, who had jumped in to save him, at Cedar Point County Park on June 15 of last year. None knew how to swim.
“These four individuals ended up carrying the ball over the goal line,” Mr. Turza said. Through their intervention, they were able to save one of the adults who had been pulled, face down, from the water. “He made a miraculous recovery and was released from the Stony Brook Trauma Center a few days later with no effects whatsoever.” The first responders will be honored by the Suffolk County Regional EMS Council at a ceremony in Sayville on May 10, Mr. Turza said.
Ms. Mott recognized four emergency medical technicians, Julianna Lester, Marcia Dias, Becky Lester, and Scott Barter, for delivering a baby in an ambulance en route to Stony Brook Southampton Hospital on Nov. 7. “This crew did an amazing job,” she said. “They got the mom to the hospital well; the baby did fine.”
Two E.M.T.s, Darcy McFarland and Kevin Gillian, and two soon-to-be E.M.T.s, Nina Piacentine and John Persan, a paramedic, Jonathan Millings, and Ms. McGuire were honored for their efforts on Jan. 27, when an East Hampton High School student experienced a seizure. “He’s doing well,” Ms. Mott said.
