Suffolk County Deputy Police Commissioner Belinda Alvarez-Groneman was honored with the Career Achievement Award by the Suffolk County Police Hispanic Society during a ceremony recognizing her decades of public service and groundbreaking leadership within the department.
Alvarez-Groneman began her career with the Suffolk County Police Department in 1981 as a Community Service Aide before becoming a police officer four years later. In 1997, she made history as the department’s first female Hispanic detective and later became the first Hispanic woman to serve on the police commissioner’s staff as a special assistant focused on strengthening police-community relations.
Throughout her career, Alvarez-Groneman earned recognition for her police work and commitment to outreach programs, including revitalizing the Third Precinct Explorer program aimed at mentoring young people interested in law enforcement careers.
Following her retirement as a detective, Alvarez-Groneman continued serving the public through community organizations and government service.
In 2015, she joined the office of former Congressman Lee Zeldin, assisting residents with immigration, security and law enforcement matters.
Her community involvement has also included organizing annual events for the Suffolk County Executive’s Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, Adelante’s Puerto Rican/Hispanic Day Parade Committee and the Adopt-a-Family at Christmas Program, sponsored by the Suffolk County Police Department and Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office through Pronto of Long Island.
In 2024, Alvarez-Groneman returned to the Suffolk County Police Department as deputy commissioner, where she now works to strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
She has also held leadership positions with numerous civic and charitable organizations, including serving as president of the Suffolk County Police Officers Hispanic Society from 1989 to 1993, chairing the Suffolk County Community College Foundation Board and serving on the Town of Islip Youth Board.
Officials said the award recognized both her trailblazing law enforcement career and lifelong commitment to community service across Suffolk County.