Ex-Oyster Bay Town official accused of stealing golf clubs from Dick's Sporting Goods
Barry Bree, 68, of Massapequa is currently an hourly employee with the town.
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The Town of Oyster Bay's former deputy commissioner of public safety was arrested and accused of stealing golf clubs from a Dick's Sporting Goods store in Melville.
Barry Bree, 68, of Massapequa, is currently an hourly employee with the town, according to a town spokesperson. He was making $121,000 annually before retiring from his full-time role with the town in 2017.
A Crime Stoppers alert showing pictures of the suspect, who police say stole $1,100 worth of golf clubs from the business, went out early Wednesday. Police say the incident happened on April 22 and that Bree came back to turn himself in the same day the alert went out.
A town of Oyster Bay spokesperson says Bree was suspended from his job.
The spokesperson released a statement saying, "We have a zero-tolerance policy and have suspended this part-time employee. We now await the outcome of this matter."
News 12 attempted to reach Bree Thursday but has not heard back.
Neighbors say Bree is the last person they would expect to be accused of stealing.
"I know him, known him for years, he's a very honest man and it's a shocker to me," says Vincent Domingo. "I don't know what to say."
Other residents say that Bree should have been "fired on the spot" and called him a "hypocrite," for promoting safety while robbing Long Island stores.
He is being charged with grand larceny and has been released without bail.
