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Page 10 Vol. 31 No. 8
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Ex-Malverne F.D. treasurer charged with corruption By BERNADETTE GIACoMAZZo bgiacomazzo@liherald.com
Courtesy Malverne Fire Department
Former Malverne Fire Department Chief & Treasurer Richard Bopp, second from left, is charged with stealing funds from the department.
Five years ago, Malverne Fire Department officials heaped lavish praise on Richard Bopp when he was sworn in as fire chief. Bopp, a decorated member of the volunteer department, held the chief ’s position until 2021 when he became the department’s treasurer. But last week, the Nassau County District Attorney accused the 45-yearold of using that post to steal more than $30,000 from the department’s budget, fraudulently writing checks to himself and using the department’s debit card to make ATM withdrawals in out-of-state casinos. After he was arrested, Bopp was arraigned before Judge Madeleine Petrara-Perrin in the Nassau County Court on Friday and charged with corrupting the government, grand larceny, forgery, and falsifying business records, which are all felonies, and official misconduct, a misdemeanor, authorities said. Bopp pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. ConTinueD on page 5
Speed Island off to a running start for young athletes By NIColE FoRMISANo nformisano@liherald.com
You come back, and you help at home. That’s what Onix Salva learned from his coaches when he was an athlete at Malverne High School and that’s exactly what he’s doing today. His training company, Speed Island, is making major waves fo r at h l e t e s i n M a l ve r n e, Lakeview and beyond. I’m most proud of “the growth of Speed Island within the first year,” Salva said. “Because it encompasses so much. As a young coach, I went through a lot and I sacrificed a lot. And seeing the growth and
success of the athletes, that’s probably what I’m most successful about right now.” He started the training company almost exactly one year ago. He coached track and field at Malverne High School, his alma mater, before going on to coach in Huntington. Under his guidance, the teams won division and state championships, and produced multiple AllAmericans, but Salva wanted to do more. He put out an invitation for athletes to train with him over the summer. He envisioned a small group — and then 40 students showed up. From there, Speed Island snowballed.
I
’m focused on training the whole person, not just the athlete. oNIx SAlVA founder Speed Island Colbert Britt was Salva’s coach during his time as a Malverne Mule. Britt taught Salva the coaching priorities that he carries with him to this day. “Seeing the success of Speed Island means that I made
Coach Britt proud,” he said. “And I’m making a positive impact on student athletes’ lives, and their parents. “I was on the other side of it. So I know how an educator and a coach can impact someone’s life, because he completely changed the direction of my life.” One of Salva’s most impor-
tant pillars of coaching? Being successful on the field means being successful in the classroom, too. Before athletes can start with Speed Island, they need to submit their academic transcript and show proof that they have a 70 or above average in every class. Salva checks ConTinueD on page 11