Sag Harbor's Top Cop Part of DWI Task Force

Officer David S. Driscoll has only been with the Sag Harbor Village police for two years, but he is already proving to be a valued member of the small department.

Due, in part, to his work during the first year of the East End DWI Task Force and his efforts to keep children safe through various programs in Sag Harbor, Driscoll was named the department's 2012 Officer of the Year. Along with officers from other departments, he will be honored at a Kiwanis Club dinner in Aquebogue on Friday night.

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Though Driscoll only recently joined Sag Harbor Village Police Department, he is a veteran officer. He started his career with the Suffolk County Parks Police 16 years ago, remaining there for 10 years before joining Southampton Town police. After four years with the town, he took a job that opened up in Sag Harbor.

After he joined the village police, he quickly started getting involved in community outreach. Certified in child safety seat inspection and installation, he secured a grant for 2012 and 2013 so that the village has child safety seats on hand for those who may not be able to afford them.

Driscoll was also already certified in bike patrol, and works as one of the four bike-trained officers in the village. Last spring, he and other officers organized a "Bike Rodeo" at the Sag Harbor Elementary School to teach students about bike safety and the importance of helmets (he secured some funding for helmets, too). An obstacle course was even set up for kids to go through.

This summer, Chief Thomas Fabiano selected Driscoll, who has consistently made a high number of DWI arrests throughout his career, to work on the Suffolk County DA's East End DWI Task Force, which brought together officers from different departments to crackdown on drunken drivers.

Driscoll made 25 DWI arrests in total for 2012, and will be honored by the county for having the most of any Sag Harbor Village police officer. It's an honor he previously received in the other two police departments in which he worked.

"I think it was a big success," Driscoll said of the task force. "I think the public was educated. I think the roads were safer because of it."

Driscoll said he is happy to have joined the force in Sag Harbor, and is honored to have been selected its Officer of the Year so soon.

"I feel very fortunate to work here. I work with a great bunch of men and women in this department," he said.

He had always hoped to join a department on the South Fork, having spent a lot of time in Southampton growing up. He is originally from Yaphank, but was also raised in Remsenburg. He graduated from St. Joseph's College in Patchogue, and is working toward his master's degree in criminal justice from CW Post.

The son of a public school reading teacher, Driscoll has always placed importance on education. "No matter what career you're in, having as much education as possible is best," he said.