Crime & Safety

Run Honors Three Fallen Police Officers

Annual Police Officer Memorial 5K Run will pay tribute to officer slain in Massapequa Park "friendly fire" incident.

Runners will hit the pavement in Seaford Sunday morning to honor the memory of three Nassau County Police Department (NCPD) officers killed in the line of duty.

The annual NCPD Police Officer Memorial 5K Run is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. in Cedar Creek Park. The race is hosted by the Nassau Police Running Club and is run in honor of fallen officers Gary Farley of Levittown, Michael J. Califano of Wantagh and Geoffrey J. Breitkopf of Selden. 

The run was originally founded 16 years ago in memory of Farley, a graduate of Levittown's MacArthur High School who was killed on March 7, 1993 after responding to a complaint of a violent mental aided case in Massapequa. Starting last year, run organizers included Califano and Breitkopf among the local police officers honored. Califano was struck and killed on Feb. 4, 2011 while conducting a routine traffic stop on the Long Island Expressway and Breitkopf was accidentally shot and killed on March 12, 2011 by an MTA officer while responding to a crime scene in Massapequa Park.

Proceeds from Sunday's run will be donated to scholarship funds in the fallen officer's names. Entry fee is $25 pre-registered or $30 the morning of. There will also be a free kids fun run taking place at 8:30 a.m. with ribbons awarded to all finishers. A post race brunch party featuring raffle prizes will be held at Mulcahy's Pub & Concert Hall in Wantagh. 

For further information, call 516-573-7210 or 516-573-7150.      


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