The Nassau County Shomrim Society is an Organization founded in 1962 to
promote the Religious spirit of Police Officer's of the Jewish faith and their families.
To promote social well-being, strengthen friendships, and promote welfare of all
our members and their loved ones. To develop good will in our community and
cooperate with all those who would have us make progress. The Nassau
Shomrim membership includes Law Enforcement Officers from Nassau and
Suffolk counties.
The First Shomrim Society
(courtesy of National Shomrim)
The first Shomrim Society was established in the New York City Police Department
in 1924. Capt. Jacob Kaminsky was the first president. It is rumored that a comment
made to a young Jewish officer going on patrol was the spark that started this
fraternal and charitable organization. It was suggested that he might feel more at
home with a salami, rather than a nightstick, under his arm. Well ,he kept his
salami, his heritage and his police status. At that time only 1% of the department
was Jewish.
Shomrim really blossomed in New York during the depression years. Civil service
jobs provided the only secure means of making a living in those days.The civil service
lists of 1935-37 added 400 new Shomrim members.
In 1939 33,000 people took the test. Of that only 1440 passed and one third of them
were Jews. Most of them were college graduates out of work teachers, lawyers,
accountants and even two doctors. By the mid 1960s this "class of 1940" had filled
such positions as Chief Inspector(the highest uniformed rank), a female Deputy Chief
Inspector, the Chief of Detectives, Chief of the Organized Crime Bureau and Chief of
the Narcotics Division; in effect,it was the class the stars" fell on.Shomrim legends
Lou Weiser (Detective Lieutenant and Deputy Commissioner of the Dept. of
Investigations) and Al Seedman (the Chief of Detectives for NYPD) were both
appointed from the 1939 list.
Both Lou and Al served as president of the New York Shomrim Society, helped
form National Shomrim and are today, still proud Shomrim members. Years later,
Shomrim members wishing to help their black fellow officers form their own
organization, assisted them in establishing the "Guardians Association" of the New
York City Police Department.
