86 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • NOVEMBER 2021
JAMES STAPLETON
SUFFOLK DETECTIVE SERGEANT
Suff olk County Police Det. Sgt. James
Stapleton died on Oct. 2 aft er a battle
with cancer. He was 49.
Stapleton was sworn into the academy
in October 1995 and served as a uniformed
patrol offi cer in the 6th and 5th
precincts. He was designated a detective
in May 2006. In September 2019 he was
promoted to the rank of sergeant and
transferred to 4th Precinct Patrol and
then 4th Precinct Crime Section in July
2021. Most recently, Stapleton was promoted
to the rank of detective sergeant
for the Identifi cation Section.
“James was a fantastic human being and
one of the fi nest offi cers and detectives
I have had the honor of meeting in my
34 years as a police offi cer,” 4h Precinct
Inspector Michael Romagnoli said. “His
loss will be felt not only as a colleague,
but as a friend.”
During the course of his 26-year career
with Suff olk police, Stapleton earned
10 command recognitions and three
departmental recognitions for his
distinguished police work.
Fourth Squad Det. Sgt. Keith Serper
knew Stapleton for 10 years and described
him as a truly selfl ess individual
who would go above and beyond
to help someone in need and always
treated everyone with respect.
“You would be hard pressed to fi nd one
person without a kind word to say about
him,” Det. Sgt. Serper said. “He touched
a lot of lives.”
Robert Viscuso of the Suff olk County
Police Superior Offi cers Association
agreed. He knew Stapleton for five
years, and said he was always determined
to put others fi rst. Even when
he became sick, he off ered to help others
instead of focusing on himself.
“Jimmy battled an utterly evil disease
with admirable courage,” Viscuso said.
Stapleton was a loving father who was
laid to rest at a private funeral mass.
“Detective Sgt. James Stapleton truly
exemplified what it means to be a
member of the Suff olk County Police
Department through his work ethic,
dedication to duty, and character,” Acting
Suff olk County Police Commissioner
Stuart Cameron said. “The Suff olk
County Police family has suff ered a
tremendous loss with his passing and
our thoughts are with his family and
friends.”
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