The Nassau County Guardians Association became a reality in November of 1953 at what was known as the “Nu Way Lounge” in the Incorporated Village of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. Lieutenant William Bracey and Sergeant James Jackson of New York Police Department met with the Nine African American members of the Nassau County Police Department to aid them in forming the Nassau County chapter of the Guardians Association.
These members of Nassau County, who became the Founders of the organization were Dave Barrett, Leo Diggs*, James Hurdle*, James Johnson, Alton Jones, John Jones, Robert Monroe*, Dennis Ulmer and William Willett.
In the 1960's and 70's, the number of African Americans hired by the Nassau County Police Department were in some instances four to six out of a class of one hundred fifty to two hundred candidates. Progress was slow and painful at times but the Guardians persevered increasing the number of minorities entering the Police Academy and making a significant contribution to the community.
In 1976, the Guardians became affiliated with the National Black Police Association, where this organization help the members define their mission by developing an identity for themselves within the department and the community.
The Guardians became involved with such issues as recruiting, retraining and mentoring black applicants. They develop a program to assist candidates to apply for any or all the law enforcement jobs in Nassau County. They participated in community voter registration drives, investigate discriminatory practices and brutality cases and developed crime awareness and crime prevention programs within the African American communities.
In 1988, the Guardians along with the Hispanic Society and several independent candidates filed a civil action in Federal Court against Nassau County and The Nassau County Police Department, claiming that Nassau Police practices discriminated against Blacks and Hispanic in the 1983 and 1987 civil service hiring examinations. In 1989 the Justice Department began negotiations with Nassau County to reinterpret the results of the past examinations for them to be fair in the hiring practices of Blacks, Hispanics and Females. In 1994 Nassau County acknowledged the ruling of the federal court and hired candidates from the 1983 and 1987 civil service examinations.
Today's membership consists of active and retired personnel committed to professionalism and community involvement between the citizens, our communities and the police. The Guardians have developed a workshop to help bridge the gap and educate the members of
the African American communities on how to interact, when they are stopped by any police officer.
The Guardians have been participating in the youth enrichment programs in various school districts. They are big brothers and big sisters to many within the public school system. They share their time as mentors and counselors in the school's weed and seed programs. Scholarships are provided for two graduating high school seniors and every summer they provide an annual picnic for all the participants they encountered in their programs and their families.
In the Seventy-seven plus years of Law Enforcement in Nassau County, only eleven African American members of Nassau County Police Department have been members of the Superior Officers Association with the rank of Sergeant or above. Three African American members of Hempstead Police Department have this honor and one African American member of Port Washington Police Department.
On March 24, 2000 the Guardians' biggest achievement came full circle when William J. Willett, one of the founder's of the organization, was appointed Commissioner of Police of Nassau County Police Department. Commissioner Willett was in his forty seventh year of service and did held every rank within the Police Department, before his retirement on May 31, 2002.
The process continued when the County Executive appointed James H. Lawrence, Jr. to replace Commissioner Willett. Commissioner Lawrence, a
thirty-two years veteran of the City of New York, Police Department, left
their as their Chief of Personnel to lead our Police Department.
