Gary DelaRaba

Gary DelaRaba has always known where his power comes from. And he has used it wisely. With more than 2,000 cops, the Nassau PBA is the largest law enforcement union on LI. And since 1988, the union has been led by DelaRaba, a tough-talking leader who took his street smarts to another level when dealing with the politicians that sign contracts. DelaRaba was a staunch supporter of former Nassau County Exec Tom Gulotta and fought an all-out war with current C.E. Suozzi. Their differences played out on a massive stage as Suozzi tried to paint DelaRaba as a thief in the night after the union told Nassau residents that Suozzi did not want to protect them with a great police force. But pragmatism is one of DelaRaba’s strong suits, and he was able to ink one of the most lucrative police contracts in the country for Nassau. The police department is often the target of politicians, who claim the contract is a reason Nassau residents are overtaxed. But DelaRaba has never wavered in his stance that his cops should get paid for doing a great job. At heart he liked to be known as a regular street cop, but he has always been as much the politician as any legislator he has faced off against. DelaRaba retires this year after 37 years as a Nassau cop. It is fitting that he enter the 2008 Hall of Fame.

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2008