Police Officer of the Month, June 2006

We honor as our Police Officers of the Month, Detectives Robert Hillman and Manuel Nash of the Robbery Squad, Nassau County Police Department and from the Floral Park Police Department, Police Officers William Doherty and Kimberly Scanlon.

Beginning in March of 2004 a male described as of Indian origin, six feet tall, in his thirties driving a tan or beige Toyota Camry, robbed twelve Nassau County banks. He produced demand notes along with zippered or draw string type bags and demanded the tellers place the money and the notes in the bags and then return them to him or as he stated he would shoot them in the face. In two of the cases he showed a handgun in his waistband.

Stakeouts and extensive media coverage failed to stop this individual from continuing his robbery spree. He would strike between 9 am and 1130 am in the middle of the week.

On Wednesday, May 18, Detectives Hillman and Nash were assigned to stakeout banks in the Floral Park. At about 1015 hours they observed a vehicle matching the subject vehicle parked on Hinsdale Avenue in Floral Park, in close proximity to the Citibank on Jericho Turnpike.

The detectives parked their unmarked vehicle in front of the subjects vehicle in an attempt to prevent him from fleeing.

They then exited their vehicle and approached the occupant. Their intention was to identify the occupant and possibly prevent another bank robbery. Detective Hillman approached from the drivers side while Detective Nash took the passenger side. The driver did not respond to Detective Hillman’s commands to turn off the vehicle and show his hands, which appeared to be in the area of his lap.

Detective Hillman opened the drivers door and observed a silver automatic handgun on the floor of the vehicle between the subjects feet, Detective Hillman reached in, removed the handgun placing it on the roof of the vehicle.

As this was occurring Detective Nash positioned himself on the drivers side of the car to prevent a possible crossfire. When commanded again to shut off the car and exit said vehicle the subject answered “no” and instead deliberately cut the wheel and drove at Detective Nash.

Both detectives commenced firing their weapons at the subject. The vehicle narrowly missed Detective Nash and then continued over the roads center median heading south to Jericho Turnpike.

The vehicle turned into the parking lot of the Citibank and came to a stop. The detectives had made notifications to communications bureau and there were 911 calls from witnesses who had observed the struggle which alerted Floral Park Police Officer William Doherty to respond to the Citibank. The call was for possible shots fired.

Officer Doherty observed the subject’s vehicle in the parking lot and was joined by Police Officer Kimberly Scanlon, as they confronted the subject and wrestled him to the ground.

The subject had been struck three times by the detective’s gun fire but was still able to attempt to flee.

He was charged with attempted murder of a police officer, attempted robbery and upon further investigation numerous bank robberies.

Due to their professionalism, training and restraint brought this robbery pattern to a successful ending.

Floral Park Police Officers Doherty and Scanlon responded to a dangerous, violent assignment subduing an out of control subject while assisting another police department in arresting this violent offender.

The actions of these police officers and detectives exemplifies police work at it’s best and department cooperation at it’s finest.