Q&A with RVCPD Commissioner Charles Gennario

As part of Rockville Centre Patch's ongoing effort to show residents the more personal side of local officials and authorities, Rockville Centre Police Department Commissioner Charles Gennario sat down with Patch to give us an in-depth look at the man who runs the village's police.  

Patch: If you weren't in law enforcement, where could you see yourself today?

Commissioner Charles Gennario: I would have remained in the Marine Corps. Becoming a Marine Officer was one of my greatest accomplishments. I would've liked to see if I could have attained "flag rank." If that wasn't possible, I would've wanted to work for a large Wall Street company like Goldman Sachs.

Patch: If you had a ticket to anywhere in the world, where would you go?

CG: I'm a mountain guy. Probably the American or Canadian Rockies. I've done a lot of traveling throughout the world and love the U.S., but I think God lives in the Canadian Rockies.

Patch: What was the last good book you've read?

CG: A serious book would be, "Attacks," by Erwin Rommel. It was about his experiences as a young infantry officer during WWI. A fun book I read was Clive Cussler's,  "The Golden Buddha."

Patch: What did you eat for breakfast this morning?

CG: Kashi's Autumn Wheat with sliced almonds and wheat germ on top. I'll make up for it at dinner!

Patch: What's one TV show you can't miss?

CG: "24."Don't know what I'll do next year.

Patch: If you could relive one day in your life, which would it be?

CG: All of them, but if I had to pick one, it would be the day my daughter Jennifer was born. Having had the pleasure of watching her grow and mature and become the woman she is, it would be great to go back and re-live the moment without the pressures I felt.  I'm sure all fathers experience the same feeling, "how am I going to provide for her education, college and wedding?" Knowing all that happened and that she's successful;  it would be great to re-live the moment and truly enjoy it.

Patch: What do you listen to in your car on the way to work?

CG: I'm a talk radio fanatic. I have a real interest in national politics because of its importance to our lives and those of our children. I'm afraid too many people ignore the consequences of not being well informed.

Patch: If you ran into an old high school friend, how would they remember you?

CG: A serious 'jock' and unfortunately a not-so-serious student.

Patch: Can you point out a fond childhood memory?

CG: I had a great childhood. Probably what I remember most was the camaraderie I had with the other kids in my neighborhood. My mother used to admonish me that I would only come home after all my friends went home. As a young boy, I'd often miss dinner and would come home after it was cleared from the table.  My father would let me go hungry as a lesson, but my mom was always there with a saved dish, wrapped in tin foil. Italian moms don't let their children go hungry!

Patch: Favorite place to go in the village?

CG: I had the pleasure of driving south bound on Peninsula Boulevard from Mercy Hospital when there was NO traffic on the road due to an unfortunate situation. I thought I was in another state. At times, I try to relive that experience.

Patch: If could listen to one singer for the rest of your life, who would it be?

CG: Neil Diamond. Tremendous lyrics, fantastic orchestration.