Freeport mayor accuses firefighter of verbal threats

Suffolk police are investigating a complaint by Freeport Mayor Andrew Hardwick that he was threatened by a Freeport firefighter at a fire department event in Melville last weekend, authorities said.

The alleged threat was made during the volunteer fire department's annual dinner and dance to swear in new officers, police said. The event, at the Hilton Long Island/Huntington, was attended by hundreds, according to several people who attended.

Hardwick on Monday reported to the Second Precinct in Huntington that he had been verbally threatened, according to a police spokeswoman.

The Second Precinct Crime Section is investigating the matter, said the spokeswoman, who would not provide details. No arrests have been made.

Freeport Fire Department executive director Ray Maguire said 1st Lt. Ryan Straub of Hose Company No. 3 had been suspended in connection with the reported incident. Straub will appear at the department's elected hearing board at a date to be determined, Maguire said. He declined to comment further, citing the pending investigation.

Attempts to reach Straub were unsuccessful. Hardwick declined to comment because of the ongoing police investigation.

Village Attorney Howard Colton declined to discuss the nature of the threat. He said village officials decided to postpone a board of trustees meeting last Monday after consulting with the Suffolk and Freeport police on Sunday.

"The Suffolk County Police Department is currently investigating an incident that took place at the Huntington Hilton during the Freeport Fire Department installation," Colton said in an e-mail. "As a consequence of conversations with the Suffolk County and Freeport Police on Sunday, the April 26, 2010, Village Board meeting was postponed to Tuesday, May 4, 2010."

Freeport's fire department has about 300 members.

Since Hardwick took office in April 2009, he has been accompanied by bodyguards on occasion.