Legislature Recognizes East Hampton Detective

East Hampton Town Police Detective Tina Giles was honored at the Suffolk County Legislature's general meeting at the Riverhead County Center on March 5. 

Legis. Jay Schneiderman, I-Montauk, recognized Giles, who was recognized earlier this year as the police department's Officer of the Year for 2012 after she uncovered one of the biggest sex abuse cases in town. 

“I hereby extend my congratulations and best wishes to Detective Tina Giles.  She is a woman truly worthy of the day’s honor, and the everlasting admiration and gratitude of Suffolk County,” Schneiderman said in a statement released on Friday.

When she received the Officer of the Year award at the Southampton Kiwanis Club's annual police awards banquet in January, she was also given another top honor, the Howard Stock Memorial Award, becoming the first woman in the 43-year history to receive the award. 

Supervisor Bill Wilkinson and the East Hampton Town Board honored Giles last month. 

Giles joined the department in 1986, becoming the first African American female police officer and later, in 1992, she became the first female police officer.