Donald Zlatniski, a longtime Riverhead police officer and dispatcher, died December 21, 2015. He was 55 years old.
Born March 1, 1960 to John and Irene (Doroski) Zlatniski in Riverhead, he attended Mercy High School, where he graduated in 1978.
He was a part-time police officer and dispatcher for many years with the Riverhead Police Department. He retired earlier this year. He also worked a a chief of police with the Westhampton Beach Police Constabulary.
“He was a great cop,” said Riverhead Police Lt. David Lessard said in an interview. “He did a really good job.”
Donald loved traveling, and he especially enjoyed visiting Florida.
He is survived by his parents; his sister, Judith Brady of Dix Hills and her husband, John; and his brother, David of Center Moriches and his wife, Donna. He is also survived by his nieces, Grace Brady and Danielle Zlatniski, and his nephews, John Brady and David Zlatniski.
The family will receive visitors at McLaughlin-Heppner Funeral Home on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m.
A funeral Mass will be held Monday at St. Isidore’s Roman Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m Interment will follow at St. Isidore’s Cemetery.
Donations may be made in his memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
