Letter: Bring back seasonal New York State park police
More than 25 teenage concertgoers, some as young as 14, were treated for alcohol poisoning before the start of a sold-out show by rap music artist Wiz Khalifa at Jones Beach, a hospital spokeswoman said. (August 2, 2012) Credit: Jim Staubitser
The news story "Drunk teens at Jones Beach taken to NUMC" [Aug. 2] brought back many a memory.
We were both seasonal officers for the Long Island State Parkway Police in the 1960s and 1970s. In those times, the state hired about 150 seasonal officers to patrol the parks on Long Island. Most of us were teachers and had good experience with young people.
The park commission, with help from FBI agents, did a commendable job training us on weekends before each season. Our ranks included men who became administrators in public schools, state troopers, and brass in regional police departments. The state did an extreme disservice to the public when it eliminated the seasonal patrolmen in 1976.
Alan Langenus, Laurel, and George Cronin, Stony Brook
Editor's note: The writers are past presidents of the Seasonal Patrolmen's Benefit Association.
