Ownership Submission
FORM 4
Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
OMB APPROVAL
OMB Number: 3235-0287
Expires: January 31, 2005
Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5

(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
PUCELLA MICHAEL
  2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
DIME COMMUNITY BANCSHARES INC [DCOM]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
209 HAVEMEYER STREET
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
05/01/2009
(Street)

BROOKLYN, NY 11211
4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4 and 5)
5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 3 and 4)
6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 05/01/2009 05/01/2009 J   3,126 D $ 7.98 6,517 I Restricted Stock Awards
Common Stock 05/01/2009 05/01/2009 J   3,126 A $ 7.98 33,725 D  
Common Stock               0 I 401(k) Plan
Common Stock               42,988 I Bmp
Common Stock               46,228 I Esop
Common Stock               2,025 I Other
Restricted Stock Award               9,645 I Restricted Stock Award

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number. SEC 1474 (9-02)

Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 3)
2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code
(Instr. 8)
5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D)
(Instr. 3, 4, and 5)
6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)
7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities
(Instr. 3 and 4)
8. Price of Derivative Security
(Instr. 5)
9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s)
(Instr. 4)
10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 4)
11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 10.91             11/21/2002 11/21/2011 Common Stock 18,000   18,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 13.16             02/01/2004 02/01/2013 Common Stock 20,250   20,250 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 19.9             01/27/2005 01/27/2014 Common Stock 20,250   20,250 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 15.1             05/31/2006(1) 05/31/2015 Common Stock 16,344   16,344 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 13.74             05/01/2008(2) 05/01/2017 Common Stock 45,000   45,000 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 16.73             05/01/2012(3) 07/31/2018 Common Stock 6,615   6,615 D  
Stock Options (Right to Buy) $ 8.34             05/01/2010 04/30/2019 Common Stock 15,383   15,383 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
 Director  10% Owner  Officer  Other
PUCELLA MICHAEL
209 HAVEMEYER STREET
BROOKLYN, NY 11211
      EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT  

Signatures

 /s/ MICHAEL PUCELLA   05/04/2009
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) Options vest in equal annual installments on May 31, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
(2) Options vest in equal 1/4th annual installments on May 1, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
(3) Award vests in equal annual installments (adjusted for rounding) on May 1, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Note: File three copies of this Form, one of which must be manually signed. If space is insufficient, see Instruction 6 for procedure.

Potential persons who are to respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB number.