The town of Babylon, N.Y., dedicated a new 31' harbor patrol boat in the name of Richard L. Brooks, a bay constable and retired New York Police Department lieutenant who was shot and killed in the line of duty in 2004, during a ceremony at Tanner Park Marina.
The event drew Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Public Safety Commissioner Jerry Gigante, harbormaster Artie Smith, Brooks' widow, Sylvia Brooks, and members of the Brooks family. Also in attendance were Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly, Suffolk County Legislature Minority Leader Jason Richberg, Amityville village Mayor Michael O'Neill, representatives from the office of Assemblyman Kwani B. O'Pharrow, and the town's bay constables.
"His memory will stay alive," Schaffer said. "He truly loved being on the water, and this dedication is a fitting tribute to a man who gave a lifetime of service — first as a volunteer firefighter in Amityville at just 17 years old, and throughout his entire career in law enforcement."
Brooks' son, Richard Jr., spoke on behalf of the family. "My dad loved the town of Babylon, loved being on the water — he said being a Bay Constable was his retirement job and he did it for fun. With this boat, his memory stays alive, and that's really all we can ask for."
The aluminum vessel, built by SAFE Boats International, was funded through a U.S. Department of Homeland Security port security grant. Its total cost was approximately $777,000, with the town securing $588,000 — roughly 80% — in federal funding. Gigante said the grant was awarded on the town's second application, after officials refined and resubmitted the request following an initial rejection.
"You could get a rejection and walk away from it, but Jerry and his team stood fast," Schaffer said. "Getting it on the second try is considered a significant achievement — it takes many municipalities years to secure this type of funding."
The Richard L. Brooks replaces vessels in the bay constables' fleet dating back to 1995. The new boat can carry 12 people and is equipped with a hydraulic drop-down bow for stretcher-based emergency medical transport, capability for all-weather and offshore operation, thermal imaging and radiation detection technology, first aid and emergency response equipment, and a maneuverable design intended for tight-quarters operations. It features Mercury outboards.
Gigante said the boat would strengthen the town's role in multi-agency water rescues. "On the water, resources are thin. When there's a missing person, an overturned boat, or an emergency, every municipality out there works together — and now we can fully participate in those rescues."
Smith said the vessel's versatility includes the ability to operate in ocean conditions and to transport patients directly to Good Samaritan University Hospital via the marina waterway when needed.
