Meet Denise

I am a lifelong resident of Suffolk County, New York.  My husband, Peter and I have lived in Wading River, for more than 26 years with my two children. My daughter is an attorney and my son is a middle school English teacher. Both graduated from Shoreham-Wading River High School. I am also a grandmother of four grandchildren.

 I am an attorney with a 32 year career in public service, serving the residents of Suffolk County, New York. 

I grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York.  After graduating from Sachem High School and then SUNY Stony Brook, I obtained my law degree from Albany Law School in 1986.  My career in public service initially began as an Assistant County Attorney with the Suffolk County Attorney's Office where I tried child abuse cases and helped petitioners obtain child support payments.

In 1988, I became an Assistant District Attorney in the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office and retired after 30 years of service.  During my career in the District Attorney's Office, I was assigned to the Homicide Bureau for 11 years where I personally tried to verdict 29 homicide trials.  I was the first Assistant District Attorney in New York State to obtain guilty verdicts against two defendants for Murder in the First Degree, murder for hire, simultaneously with two separate juries.  I have personally tried 49 felony jury trials where defendants were charged with crimes such as robbery, burglary, rape, assault, conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

In addition to prosecuting violent felony cases, I have served as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau where I supervised 15 Assistant District Attorneys in their prosecution of child abuse, attempted murder, rape and other violent felonies committed against family members and domestic partners.  I also served as Deputy Bureau Chief of the Major Crimes Bureau where I supervised 9 Assistant District Attorneys in their prosecution of violent felonies.   

After retiring from the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, I became an adjunct professor at Touro Law School where I currently teach trial advocacy courses.  Additionally, I volunteer my time coaching law school students to compete in national mock trial competitions.

All my life I have been helping to protect and serve Suffolk County residents and when elected to the Riverhead Town Council I will protect and promote the economic advancements, the environment,  and the lifestyle we all love about our beautiful town.