Massapequa: A Community of Law Enforcement
Massapequa, located on Long Island's scenic South Shore and about an hour by train from Manhattan, is widely recognized as a "cop town" by its residents. The community hosts a significant number of New York Police Department (NYPD) detectives, multi-generational police families, officers from Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and personnel from various other law enforcement agencies.
In 2010, the discovery of human remains on Gilgo Beach, a local summer gathering spot for families and teens lifeguarding, revealed the presence of a serial killer active on Long Island for several years. This revelation sparked widespread speculation about the killer's identity, including rumors that he might be a local or even a police officer.
The arrest of architect Rex Heuermann in 2023 dispelled many of these theories. His court admission to the murders of eight women has provided a sense of closure to the Long Island law enforcement community.
"It's a great relief," said Craig Garland, a retired NYPD detective and Massapequa resident. "There were people out there trying to pin this on a cop and … it brings great closure to the law enforcement community at large [that] this wasn't a cop that was a serial killer."
Heuermann, aged 62, married with two children, was apprehended in July 2023 in Manhattan after authorities matched his DNA from a discarded pizza slice near his Midtown office. His daily commute from Massapequa Park to Manhattan passed by Johnny McGorey's, a local pub frequented by police officers who discussed the ongoing investigation into the murders.
Joanne Fountain, owner of Johnny McGorey's, recalled how members of the homicide unit, who were regular patrons, were visibly shaken by the discoveries of bodies. "They would come in, and we would be like, 'What the hell is going on down at the beach, at Ocean Parkway?'" she said. "Then it was all day, every day, on the news."
Despite the intense speculation and discussions among the police and their families, no one suspected the killer was so close. Some officers even questioned whether the perpetrator could be one of their own, given how well the killer covered his tracks.
"He's covering his tracks so well and, you know, is there a possibility it could be a cop?" Garland recalled. "Listen, there's always a possibility it could be anybody."
Scandal and Challenges Within the Police Department
Bob Livoti, president of the Association of Retired Police Officers (ARPO), noted that Massapequa and Massapequa Park have a higher concentration of police officers than any other area on Long Island, calling it "the hub" of the region's law enforcement population.
Fountain highlighted the prevalence of multi-generational police families, citing one of her barback employees whose father and grandfather were both cops, and who recently joined the NYPD himself. "Massapequa police families eat, sleep and breathe it," she said.
The community also includes many firefighters, EMTs, and officers from other agencies. The area was particularly affected by the 9/11 attacks, with Nassau County losing approximately 350 people, including numerous first responders.
However, the Gilgo Beach case posed significant difficulties for law enforcement. John Azzata, retired head of homicide for Nassau County, expressed frustration over the lengthy time it took to identify the perpetrator.
The investigation was further complicated by a scandal involving Suffolk County Police Chief Jimmy Burke, who led the Gilgo Beach case until his 2013 arrest on charges related to sex toys, pornography, witness coercion, and a cover-up. According to the US Attorney's Office, Burke entered the home of Christopher Loeb, a man arrested for probation violations, to retrieve stolen sex toys and pornography from Burke's department-issued SUV. He then assaulted Loeb while in custody and attempted to orchestrate a cover-up.
Burke pleaded guilty to reduced charges in 2016 and was sentenced to 46 months in prison. The scandal also implicated former Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas J. Spota and Christopher McPartland, the DA Office's former chief of investigations and head of the government corruption bureau, both of whom received five-year prison sentences.
These corruption allegations among officials investigating the murders of sex workers fueled conspiracy theories about law enforcement's connection to the serial killer. Burke's decision to end cooperation with the FBI further angered many Long Island officers.
"There was a lot of disgust," said Livoti. "When I was reading about it, I said, I can't believe the stuff that this guy got away with. Unbelievable. There were so many red flags, and nobody did anything."
The scandal provided ample material for armchair detectives and conspiracy theorists, prolonging the mystery surrounding the Long Island serial killer until Heuermann's arrest on July 13, 2023.
Law enforcement officers expressed relief that the suspect was an architect rather than a police officer. Livoti remarked, "Whoever thought this guy was living next door to anyone?" Garland added,
"I think everybody was in shock. For anybody that came in contact with this individual, it was a shock."
Community Response and Ongoing Impact
At St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church in Massapequa, which counts many police and first responders among its parishioners, Reverend Gerard Gentleman observed how the community quickly shifted from shock to empathy and support.
"People reached out, saying: What are we doing for [Heuermann's] family? Can we do anything?" the pastor said. "And we did. We had some offerings to them and … one of our staff members did actually go and sit with his wife for a little while.
"Obviously, there was also concern: 'My goodness, this was happening right here in our town. He was among us,'" Gentleman continued. "There is great relief that this is going to be in the past as well as deep sadness."
He described Massapequa as a close-knit community for whom this event was "very disruptive and shattering."
The parish has witnessed significant support from the law enforcement community. For example, when Massapequa resident and NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller was killed in the line of duty two years ago, thousands attended his funeral at St Rose of Lima, lining the streets. Notably, former President Donald J. Trump attended the officer's wake in Massapequa, a community that has trended increasingly Republican in recent years; Nassau County voted Republican in the 2024 presidential election for the first time in two decades.
Gentleman stated,
"It's a community that responds to sadness, to tragedy, finds their strength in being with one another and that identity. It's a middle-class, working community – lots of cops and firemen – and that's the, I think, ethos of the community."
This ethos is expected to be crucial as the community processes the aftermath of Heuermann's guilty pleas.
Garland expressed,
"It brings great closure to everybody that this individual is behind bars. It's the right guy, and it's nothing that anybody has to be concerned with moving forward."
Azzata added,
"I'm happy that this individual was arrested and hopefully will plead guilty and put this whole thing to rest."
Despite the relief felt by police and the community, Azzata emphasized that a guilty plea cannot fully heal the families of the victims.
"People say they get closure; there's no closure," he said. "You may get justice, but victims' families never get closure."
