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VOL. 130 NO. 26
JUNE 18 - 24, 2025
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Amityville police chief to retire after 32 years with the department By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Courtesy/Town of Babylon
Judge Edward J. Kiley’s family joined public officials at Greenlawn Terrace and Great Neck Road in Copiague as the intersection was renamed in his honor. L. to r.: Town Councilman Terence McSweeney; NYS Assemblyman Kwani O’Pharrow; Councilman Anthony Manetta; Supervisor Rich Schaffer; Kiley’s grandson Austin; his son and daughter-in-law Sonja and Darren Kiley; his brothers, Jerry, Jim and Bill; Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez and S.C. Leg. Kevin McCaffrey.
‘The Judge’ gets his own crossroads as Babylon Town honors his memory By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Greenlawn Terrace at Great Neck Road in Copiague has been ceremoniously renamed Judge Edward J. Kiley Court by the Town of Babylon. Judge Kiley had been a resident of Copiague since 1967, a New York City police officer and full-time criminal attorney before becoming a Suffolk County District Court judge in 1980, where he served with distinction for seven years. Babylon Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer, Deputy Supervisor Tony Martinez, Councilman Anthony Manetta, as well as S.C. Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey and Assembly-
man Kwani O’Pharrow, joined the judge’s family for the recent street renaming. “The day was a dream come true for the entire Kiley family,” said his son Darren. “My dad gave his entire life to service. Every day as he always said, welcome to another beautiful day of life, and he dedicated each one to helping as many people as he could. “ His son added that “the Judge, as so many called him, loved Copiague and the Town of Babylon and we, as a family, are thankful to Rich Schaffer and the entire town board for bestowing such an honor on a man so many of us admired, loved and dearly miss.” Kiley, who was also known as “the marrying judge” for officiating at thousands of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Amityville Police Chief Bryan Burton is retiring after 32 years with the department, where he started as a patrol officer, became a sergeant, and, ultimately, took over the top slot. His last day will be Tuesday, July 29. Even though his contract would have expired in December, Burton said his decision to retire comes with mixed emotions. “It is melancholy,” Burton said. “I know that all things have to come to an end, but I also know police service runs through my blood and is and will always be an important part of my life.” Burton’s father, Bryan Burton Sr., is a retired Suffolk County police officer. His son, Bryan Burton III, has been a patrol officer in the Amityville department for the past two years. Burton joined the Amityville Police Department in 1993, always hoping to rise through the ranks. Acknowledging the limited opportunities for advancement in a small department like Amityville compared with larger ones in Nassau or Suffolk counties, he said he chose to serve the village where he eventually made his home. “It has been my honor from
day one to serve this village— as a police officer, sergeant, and then as chief—and to carry out the mission we have every day,” Burton said. “The last few years in this chair,” he added from his office last week, “have been about making sure the team was the best trained and equipped as possible.” During his tenure, Burton worked with Lt. Frank Caramanica to rewrite the department’s policies to meet updated New York State standards. Under his leadership, the department met all requirements for accreditation by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services—a distinction achieved by only about one-third of police departments in the state. “We are very proud of that,” Burton said. In addition, as chief, he guided the department through several challenges, including race-related protests, the COVID-19 pandemic, and efforts to restore staffing levels to recommended numbers. A native of Amity Harbor, Burton attended Copiague schools before earning a degree in criminal law from Nassau Community College and a degree in government and politics from St. John’s University. He lives in AmiCONTINUED ON PAGE 2