Daniel Yuengling
Volunteer
Plainedge UFSD
When injuries forced Daniel Yuengling to give up the job of his dreams — protecting residents as a Nassau County police detective — he found a new way to keep his passion alive. For more than 15 years, Yuengling has been sharing the knowledge he gained on the police force as a volunteer for Plainedge UFSD.
Yuengling started his career as a police officer in New York City and later joined the Nassau County Police Department as an officer in the First Precinct. Progressing up the ladder, he became a detective in the Narcotics Bureau but sadly was forced to retire early.
Already an active PTA participant, Yuengling beefed up his volunteer efforts at the school district. An expert in drug and alcohol abuse, he teaches six sessions of the middle school's health class. He holds assemblies on the topic of stranger safety and the dangers of alcohol and tobacco use for the district's youngest students. In addition, he hosts workshops for parents on a variety of safety topics.
As an advocate for the Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Yuengling was among the first volunteers for the now-defunct National Speaker program, speaking at various New York area public events to increase awareness for child safety. Unimpressed with the types of assemblies available on these issues, he and his wife, Darlene, created their own presentation for fifth-graders. What sets it apart, according to Yuengling, is student participation — it motivates them and keeps them interested.
Yuengling received an honorable mention for the 1992 New York State Governor's Police Officer of the Year Award and was awarded the Nassau County Police Department's Medal of Distinguished Service.
He earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Nassau Community College, a bachelor's in interdisciplinary studies from New York Institute of Technology, and a master's in public administration from Long Island University's C.W. Post campus.
A resident of Massapequa, N.Y., Yuengling has two daughters: Danielle and Nicole.
