Suffolk County Acting Police Commissioner Robert Waring, Deputy Police Commissioner Belinda Groneman, and Assistant Chief Milagros Soto joined thousands of people as they marched in the annual Puerto Rican/Hispanic Day Parade.
This year, Chief Soto, who is the department’s highest-ranking female and first-ever Hispanic chief, received the presidential award while Deputy Police Commissioner Groneman had the honor of presenting the Nilda Alvarez Social Justice Award, named after her late mother, to Sister Janet Kinney of Sisters of Saint Joseph.
While the parade originated to recognize Puerto Rican culture, it has been transformed into a day to celebrate all Latino cultures. More than 3,000 people were estimated to have participated in the 58th annual Puerto Rican/Hispanic Day Parade.