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

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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.
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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.

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