Riverhead Police Department bids farewell to retiring Detective Edward Carey

The Riverhead Police Department bid farewell to Detective Edward Carey during an emotional walkout ceremony this afternoon.

Carey, 59-years-old and a 22-year veteran of the department, descended the steps of Riverhead Police Department Headquarters with his wife, Lynn, and his daughters, Janelle and Logann, by his side, as officers saluted him.

His fellow officers — whom he affectionately referred to as the “guys and girls” — will be what he misses most in his retirement, Carey said, holding back tears.

“They do a great job. I’m proud to be part of it,” he said.

Throughout his time wearing badge number 74, Carey touched many parts of the police department. He was a patrol officer, served on the department’s Community Oriented Policing Enforcement (COPE) unit, was a part of the East End Drug Task Force, and served in the marine and highway patrol units. He also gave lectures to students at Riverhead High School. He became a detective in 2016.

Carey started his career at the Riverhead Police Department in 2002, joining the academy when he was 35-years-old at the suggestion of former Riverhead Police Chief Joseph Grattan. Carey said he was out responding to an accident with the Riverhead Fire Department and Grattan was on the scene. 

“Are you taking my test?” he recalled Grattan saying. 

“He asked me that and I kind of was taken aback. I’m like, I really hadn’t thought about it,” Carey said. “He said, ‘You need to call me Monday, I want to talk to you.’ And I guess that I took the test. And 22 years later, here I am.”

Carey said he will use his retirement to relax. “I’m gonna take care of some gardening; I plant a lot of stuff every year. Definitely going to play some golf; hopefully I get better at it,” Carey said. “I’m just gonna take a little time off during the summer and just relax a little bit. I don’t have to worry about the phone ringing in the middle of the night.” 

Carey said his retirement also frees up his schedule to respond to more daytime calls for the Riverhead Fire Department, where he is an ex-chief and a Riverhead Fire District fire commissioner. 

“I know a lot of the public, and especially Riverhead people — I think they know what they have. They appreciate the cops. I just wish everybody did. Because again, everybody does a great job,” Carey said. “We’re out there to help people in their worst day and I’ve always tried, no matter who it was I dealt with, I felt like I always tried to give everybody a fair shake.” 

“We’re really grateful for all the time that he has put into the town,” said Council Member Joann Waski. “I know that he really loved his career. He put his whole heart and soul on it. And it was a pleasure for my husband even to be able to work alongside him. Great man, great family and the department is really going to miss him.”