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  Dillon, Denis E.
CANDIDATE DETAILS
AffiliationConservative  
 
NameDenis E. Dillon
Address
Rockville Centre, New York , United States
EmailNone
WebsiteNone
Born 00, 1933
DiedAugust 15, 2010 (77 years)
Contributornystate63
Last ModifedDavid
Dec 28, 2021 04:12pm
Tags Married - Cancer - Catholic -
InfoDENIS DILLON, in his first bid for public office, was elected District Attorney of Nassau County in 1974. He was re-elected in 1977 by more than 93,000 votes, running with the endorsements of three parties; Democratic, Conservative and Liberal. In 1981 and 1985 Dillon received the endorsement of all five major parties; Democratic, Republican, Conservative, Liberal and Right of Life. In 1989 Dillon was re-elected to an unprecedented fifth term in office, running with the endorsement of the Republican, Conservative and Right to Life Parties. In 1993 Dillon was re-elected to his sixth term and received the highest vote total of any county-wide candidate. In 1997, Dillon again led the ticket, receiving seventy percent of the vote. He was endorsed by the Republican, Conservative, Right to Life, Independent and Freedom Parties. In 2001, Dillon was elected to his eighth term, running on the Republican, Conservative, Independence, Right-to-Life and Liberal lines.

Born in 1933, Dillon grew up in the South Bronx, attended St. Jerome's Elementary School, St. Ann's Academy and Fordham University. After he graduated from Fordham, Dillon became a New York City Police Officer. In 1955, he took a leave of absence from the Police Department and entered the U.S. Air Force. After completing his military service, Dillon returned to the Police Department and, while on the force, he put himself through Fordham Law School.

Dillon was named an honor law graduate by Attorney General Robert Kennedy and appointed to the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He began his career as a trial attorney working on numerous federal civil rights investigations and cases in the early 1960's. Dillon helped prepare the civil rights suits that forced the admission of black students to the University of Mississippi and the University of Alabama.

Dillon returned to New York in 1966 as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York. He was responsible for trying cases involving white collar crimes of tax evasion and bankruptcy fraud, as well as armed robberies, narcotic smuggling and other federal crimes.

In 1968 the Justice Department inaugurated the Organized Crime Strike Force for the Eastern District, charged with coordinating all federal investigations of organized crime in Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, Brooklyn and Staten Island. Dillon joined the Strike Force in 1969 and was appointed Director in 1970. Under his leadership the Strike Force had the best record of any federal strike force in the country.

During his career as a prosecutor Dillon has been cited for his work by the Secret Service, the Justice Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He has received the Justice Department's John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Achievement; an award from the Commissioner of Customs for Outstanding Achievement in Investigation and Prevention of Cargo Thefts; the Fordham Alumni Association Award for outstanding contributions in the field of law; C.W. Post, Department of Criminal Justice Distinguished Service Award; the Society of Professional Investigators Law Enforcement Officer of the year in 1982; F.B.I. Emerald Society 1990 Man of the Year; Retired Detectives Association Award, New York City Police Department in 1991; the Nassau County Court Officers Benevolent Association 1993 Man of the Year; and he was honored as President of the New York State District Attorney's Association in 1991.

The National Conference of Shomrin Societies Award of Merit and the Federal Criminal Investigators Association Award for outstanding service on behalf of law enforcement were presented to Dillon. Fordham Law Alumni cited his outstanding achievements in law and justice; and his former high school, Archbishop Molloy, honored him as Stanner Public Servant of 1978 and placed him in their Hall of Fame. He was the Emerald Society of the New York City Board of Education Irishman of the Year in 1983 and the 1990 recipient of the "Charles Carroll Award" from the Guild of Catholic Lawyers in New York for his distinction in the legal profession and public life. In 1996, Dillon received from the Long Island Society

of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick the "Favorite Son Award." In October of 2001, he received the President's Award from the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Nassau County. He has received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Molloy College and an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from St. John's University.

Dillon's human rights work has been recognized with awards from the Long Island Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights; the Humanitarian Award from B'Nai B'rith; the National Ancient Order of Hibernians John F. Kennedy Memorial Medal; the March for Life Award for Distinguished Service in 1987; the Ukrainian American Famine Commemorative Committee Citation; the Long Beach Lodge B'nai B'rith Citation of Merit; South Shore Pro-Life Committee Award for Distinguished Achievement; Catholic Layman of the Year in 1985 from the Catholics United For the Faith; the American Irish Congress Special Service Award; the Cardinal Mindszenty Foundation Freedom Award in 1991; the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993 from the Nassau County A.O.H.; the Cardinal Cooke Right to Life Award in 1994; the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre Award; the Eagle Forum Award for "Dedication to God, Family and Country"; and the Pro Vita Award

from the Diocese of Rockville Centre in recognition of his "significant contribution to the Respect Life cause," and that his "life and...witness clearly affirm the sacredness of all human life." In 1995 he was honored at the 45th Anniversary of St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hempstead, "In recognition of your outstanding example of Christian values and leadership in public service." Additionally, he and his wife, Anne, were also honored in 1995 by the Oblate Sisters of the Most Holy Redeemer, "In sincere appreciation for fourteen years of loving service and dedication to the mission of Mother of Good Counsel Home in ministering to the needs of pregnant and parenting adolescent mothers and their babies." In 1996, Dillon was selected by the Catholic Bishops of New York to receive the "New York State Catholic Conference's Public Policy Award." The Bishops select individuals who exemplify courageous and outstanding leadership in the public policy arena. In 1997, the Mikveh Association of Long Island gave Dillon the Community Service Award, "In appreciation of your devotion, dedication and untiring efforts on behalf of the citizens of Nassau County." In October of 2000, he was honored with an Award for Distinguished Service from the Lakeview, Long Island Branch of the NAACP. In June of 2001, he was presented with the Unispan Award from Hofstra University in recognition of his service and leadership.

Dillon has served as a member of the Rockville Centre Diocesan Justice Commission and as an advisor on the board of the New York Legal Coalition for Soviet Jewry. He was a member of the Eagle Board of Review of the Skodak District Nassau County Council, Boy Scouts of America, and is on the Advisory Committee on Criminal Justice for the State University at Farmingdale. He serves on the Advisory Boards for the National Obscenity Law Center, the Hispanic Brotherhood of Rockville Centre, Mother and Unborn Baby Care, Youth Guidance, the American Family Association of New York and the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.

He is a member of the National District Attorneys Association; former President of the New York State District Attorneys Association; the Nassau County Bar Association; the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick; the Kerrymen's Association; the Fordham Alumni Association; the Long Island Division of Prison Fellowship Ministries; the Ancient Order of Hibernians; and a Knight of Malta.

Dillon was the candidate for New York State Governor on the Right to Life line in 1986. In addition to raising the Right to Life issue in the campaign, Dillon tripled the percentage of votes for Governor on this line and received what was, at that time, the highest total vote ever for Governor on the Right to Life line.

Mr. Dillon, and his wife, the former Anne O'Rourke, live in Rockville Centre. They have two daughters, Alicemarie and Barbara.

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Aug 16, 2010 07:00pm Obituary Denis E. Dillon, Prosecutor on Long Island, Dies at 76  Article RMF 

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FAMILY
Daughter Barbara Dillon 0000-

INFORMATION LINKS
RACES
  11/08/2005 Nassau County District Attorney Lost 48.72% (-2.57%)
  09/13/2005 Nassau County District Attorney - IDP Primary Lost 47.04% (-5.92%)
  11/06/2001 Nassau County District Attorney Won 55.72% (+11.44%)
  11/04/1997 Nassau County District Attorney Won 69.41% (+40.38%)
  11/02/1993 Nassau County District Attorney Won 59.73% (+21.24%)
  11/07/1989 Nassau County District Attorney Won 56.74% (+13.98%)
  11/04/1986 NY Governor Lost 3.05% (-61.58%)
  11/05/1985 Nassau County District Attorney Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/03/1981 Nassau County District Attorney Won 100.00% (+100.00%)
  11/08/1977 Nassau County District Attorney Won 62.19% (+24.38%)
  11/05/1974 Nassau County District Attorney Won 52.24% (+10.45%)
ENDORSEMENTS