Legislator, PBA Bury Hatchet After Recent Dustup

A dustup between the Suffolk County PBA and one of its former members, Legislator Robert Trotta, has reached a stalemate with both sides issuing statements that appear to bury the hatchet. Trotta, a frequent critic of the union who charged that it improperly used PBA funds against him, was recently taken off the legislature’s Public Safety Committee after union outcry over his threat to release recordings between himself and Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison where he raised his concerns.

“I would like to thank the Presiding Officer and caucus for taking the necessary steps to ensure the work of government can move forward without obstruction,” said Police Benevolent Association President Noel DiGerolamo. “I would also like to thank Legislator Trotta for acknowledging no violation of law has occurred. Hopefully we can all move forward doing the most important role of government which is ensuring public safety.”

“It is the presiding officer’s prerogative to determine the membership of all committees,” Trotta said in his statement. “I have brought my concerns to most law-enforcement agencies at all levels of government and, to date, no one has acted on my complaints. Therefore, since those agencies have yet determined any wrongdoing, I will now focus all my time and energy on representing the other issues important to the constituents of 13th legislative district.

Legislator Robert Trotta

Trotta, 62, a Fort Salonga Republican who represents an area centered around Smithtown, had also drawn the ire of the Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees union which expressed concerns over the taping of county employees. Both the PBA and the employee association appealed to the legislature’s presiding officer, Kevin McCaffrey, to remove Trotta from the public safety committee, which oversees Suffolk’s police force. Trotta had said he made the recording to "expose corruption that takes raises and funds away from our county workers."

Police Benevolent Association President Noel DiGerolamo

Trotta, a critic of using PBA dues for political campaigns, had complained that the Long Island Law Enforcement Foundation, a political action committee, funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars against his reelection in 2021. A primary challenger had been thrown off the ballot after complaints by Trotta that his nominating petitions were improperly signed. This year, the Suffolk GOP has endorsed him for another term. The five-term lawmaker served 25 years with the Suffolk Police and retired as detective. He was hailed as “Cop of the Year” in 1993 and “Detective of the Year” in 2001.