The Riverhead Police Department has its second female sergeant.
Sgt. Danielle Willsey, a 12-year veteran of the force, was sworn in at last night’s town board meeting by Police Chief David Hegermiller.
Willsey fills the post left vacant by the recent retirement of longtime Sgt. Brian Gleason.
Matthew Suprina, who was appointed as a part-time officer last year, was hired full-time to replace Willsey as a patrol officer.
Hegermiller said he is pleased with both appointments.
Willsey has worked in patrol and is currently the department’s court officer. She is a member of RPD’s Critical Incident Response Team and is instrumental in Operation Black Swan, Hegermiller said. Operation Black Swan is a regional emergency preparedness drill that provides annual training for responding to emergency scenarios, such as mass shootings.
Willsey is one of nine sergeants in the department, including the first woman ever to attain the rank, Sgt. Jill Kubetz, who was promoted to sergeant in 2015.
Both Willsey and Suprina took the oaths of office with members of their families at their sides.
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