East Hampton Police Lieutenant Named Sag Harbor's Next Chief

A.J. McGuire, a lieutenant in the East Hampton Town Police Department, is poised to become the next chief of the Sag Harbor Village Police Department.

Lieutenant McGuire, who has been with the town police for 18 years, was one of four people to apply for the chief's position after Tom Fabiano announced his retirement in September. Three others were considered, Village Mayor Sandra Schroeder said. "We were overwhelmed by how good they were," she said on Friday. The lieutenant, she said, "is quite the go-getter," whom, she said, would be a good leader and someone the other officers would admire and respect. She is also glad to have found a replacement who will stay in the position long-term.

East Hampton Town Police Chief Michael Sarlo said he wishes his lieutenant the best of luck, but admitted his department wasn't prepared for such a loss. "We are losing a very professional, well-trained and respected member of our senior supervisory staff," he said on Friday morning. "He will be difficult to replace at this time, as we had not planned for his departure prior to his 20-year commitment." 

Lieutenant McGuire is the third lieutenant to leave the town police department in less than a year; Lt. Chris Hatch retired in March after 22 years on the job, and Lt. Thomas Grenci, a 28-year member of the department, retired in October. 

"Sag Harbor is getting a good communicator, someone who understands the importance of community policing and professionalism," Chief Sarlo said. 

Reached on Friday, Lieutenant McGuire said he wanted to thank the village board for the opportunity, as well as the East Hampton Town Board and Chief Sarlo. "I will sincerely miss working for the East Hampton Town Police Department. I'm very excited for my new endeavor and look forward to serving the residents and visitors of the Village of Sag Harbor," he said.

Lieutenant McGuire will not start work in Sag Harbor right away; New Year's Eve will be his last day in East Hampton. The timing will allow for some transition time before Chief Fabiano's departure, Mayor Schroeder said. Chief Fabiano, who has led the department since 2001, will step down on Jan. 16, though his official retirement date won't come for another year due to unused vacation and sick time.

The lieutenant also will not immediately be appointed chief due to the Civil Service process. The village board is expected to meet on Tuesday at 11 a.m. and approve transferring him from the town to the village as a lieutenant. When Chief Fabiano leaves in January, the board will make him an acting or provisional chief. Then, when Chief Fabiano's terminal leave concludes one year later, and Lieutenant McGuire has passed the Civil Service exam, he will be made chief, Mayor Schroeder said. The next exam will be given in March. 

The Town of East Hampton, the mayor said, approved Lieutenant McGuire's lateral transfer. "My big thanks are going to the town. We owe them big time for this," she said.

A resident of Noyac, just outside the village, Lieutenant McGuire is a member of the Sag Harbor Fire Department and his children are in the school district. All of the applicants, save for a late fifth applicant from Massapequa who submitted a resume after the decision had been made, the mayor said, were from the area.