This idyllic US town was full of police families – and a serial killer in their midst
This Idyllic US Town Was Full of Police Families – and a Serial Killer in Their Midst
Residents of Massapequa take pride in calling it a “cop town.” Nestled along Long Island’s scenic South Shore, the community lies just an hour’s train ride from Manhattan. It is a place where NYPD detectives, multi-generational police families, and officers from Nassau and Suffolk Counties coexist, alongside members of various other law enforcement agencies. However, the tranquility was shattered in 2010 when body parts began washing up on Gilgo Beach—a location near where local teens serve as lifeguards and families gather during the summer.
The sightings sparked intense speculation. Was the killer a local resident? Had they been operating undetected for years? And could they, perhaps, be wearing a badge? These questions dominated conversations as the case unfolded. The arrest of architect Rex Heuermann in July 2023 finally answered them. His admission in court this week to the murders of eight women provided a sense of resolution for law enforcement on Long Island.
A Legacy of Service and Suspicion
Massapequa’s law enforcement presence is deeply rooted. “There are probably more cops in the Massapequa, Massapequa Park area than any other part of Long Island,” noted Bob Livoti, president of the Association of Retired Police Officers. The town is a focal point for the region’s policing community, with generations of officers passing down their commitment to duty. This legacy extends beyond police: firefighters, medics, and staff from other agencies also call the area home.
“It’s a great relief… this wasn’t a cop that was a serial killer.” — Craig Garland, retired NYPD detective
Garland, a Massapequa resident and Little League baseball organizer, shared the sentiment of many. “There were people out there trying to pin this on a cop,” he recalled, emphasizing the community’s relief at the conclusion of the case. The town’s close-knit nature, where police families “eat, sleep and breathe it,” made the possibility of a killer among them particularly haunting.
Joanne Fountain, owner of the police bar Johnny McGorey’s, described how the homicide unit became a regular fixture at her establishment. “They would come in, and we would be like, ‘What the hell is going on down at the beach, at Ocean Parkway?'” she said. The bar, located near a rail station, was a hub for officers to discuss the growing mystery, unaware that the killer was just blocks away.
Tragedy and Turmoil
The Gilgo Beach murders added a layer of complexity to Massapequa’s already robust policing culture. The case was particularly challenging, as it spanned years and tested the resolve of investigators. “As an administrator and someone who was a cop, it was very frustrating that it took so long to discover… who’s responsible for these murders,” said John Azzata, Nassau County’s retired head of homicide.
The investigation faced further hurdles when Suffolk County Police Chief Jimmy Burke was arrested in 2013. The scandal, which involved sex toys, pornography, witness coercion, and a cover-up, cast doubt on the leadership. Burke, then overseeing the case, entered the home of Christopher Loeb—a man arrested for probation violations—to retrieve stolen items. He beat Loeb in custody and attempted to silence others, eventually pleading guilty in 2016 to reduced charges and receiving a 46-month prison sentence.
The fallout from Burke’s case also led to convictions for Thomas J Spota, former Suffolk County District Attorney, and Christopher McPartland, former chief of investigations. Their five-year sentences highlighted the strain on trust within the law enforcement community. Yet, despite these setbacks, the town’s police families and first responders continued to serve, their dedication now underscored by the haunting legacy of the Gilgo Beach killings.
