New Southampton Police Chief on the Job

Thu, 05/23/2019 - 06:39

By Taylor K. Vecsey

May 4, 2017

Steven E. Skrynecki, named by the Southampton Town Board in September to take over as town police chief, was officially sworn in this week. His appointment was delayed several times for various reasons, but he took the oath of office at Town Hall on Monday.

Chief Skrynecki was initially scheduled to begin full time earlier this year, but it was postponed until March due to Civil Service regulations that required he use up accrued vacation time from his previous job before starting a new one. He served as the police chief, the second in command, in Nassau County and retired in January after 42 years with the department.

He worked two days a week as a consultant in Southampton. In March, his start date was delayed again for personal reasons. His appointment was made official by town board resolution on April 25.

Capt. Lawrence Schurek had been at the helm since Robert Pearce retired as chief in late September.

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A dog had been barking on and off in a fenced-in backyard for four days, a Springs-Fireplace Road neighbor reported on the night of Oct.15, adding that the house appeared to be empty and abandoned. Police went to the property and found a large black-and-white husky, “whimpering and shivering.”

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