Southampton Town Police Chief Steven Skrynecki Dies Following Long Illness

Described by a colleague as “the quintessential public servant,” Steven Skrynecki, who served as chief of the Southampton Town Police Department since 2016, died at his home in Hicksville on Thursday, October 6.

The cause of death was myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of cancer. He had been undergoing chemotherapy and awaiting a bone marrow transplant. Skrynecki would have turned 70 on October 18.

On Friday, October 7, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman ordered flags at town facilities to fly at half-staff for the week leading up to his funeral, which was scheduled for Thursday, October 13, in Amityville.

“This is extremely tragic — we’re all processing it,” Schneiderman said last Thursday afternoon. “It’s a tremendous personal loss for me — we talked just about every day — and a tremendous loss for the town. There was none like him.”

Public Safety and Emergency Management Administrator Ryan Murphy, who helmed the town’s public safety and ordinance enforcement divisions, worked closely with the chief, as their department’s challenges and efforts often intersected. “He was the quintessential public servant dedicated to helping others, an example we all should follow,” he said.

Skrynecki grew up in Nassau County, where he kept a home with his longtime significant other, Marianne Hassan. He had two children, Scott, who is a Nassau County Police officer, and Kathryn.

The chief began his career with the Nassau County Police in 1974, as a patrol officer with the department, and worked his way up through the ranks to commanding officer of the robbery squad, vice squad, narcotics squad, internal affairs, chief of detectives, and finally to chief of the department.

In a release Friday morning, Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman and Commissioner of Police Patrick J. Ryder announced the chief’s death “with deep sorrow.” He was a Four Star Chief of Department, who rose through the ranks from recruit to police officer, detective, sergeant, detective sergeant, lieutenant, detective lieutenant, captain, detective captain, deputy inspector, inspector, deputy chief, assistant chief, chief of detectives and NCPD’s highest-ranking uniformed officer, chief of department.

Due to his experience, expertise and dedication, Skrynecki was appointed to specialized units and designations. He was a chief hostage negotiator, commanding officer of the Narcotics Vice Bureau, Internal Affairs, robbery squad, and numerous precinct squads. He was also a decorated officer who was awarded numerous medals, including the Medal of Distinguished Service for bravery.

Speaking to The Press last year, the chief proudly noted that in 2009, when he was promoted to chief of detectives, it was part of a historic day for the Nassau County Police Department. That day, Karen O’Callaghan became the highest-ranking woman in the 84-year history of the Nassau County Police Department, when she was appointed chief of department.

It also was the day Keechant Sewell became only the second African American woman in the department to advance to the rank of lieutenant. Last year, when she was made commissioner of the New York Police Department, he shared fond recollections of mentoring her through the ranks.

His latest initiative, using telehealth professionals to help assess people experiencing mental health or substance abuse-related crises, and avoid time-consuming and often unnecessary transport to facilities in Hauppague, was an example of the cutting edge ideas he brought to the Southampton Town Police.

Schneiderman listed more — license plate readers, connecting school video cameras to the police dispatch center, language lines, and comprehensive planning for special events like the Hampton Classic. He’d been in charge of security for the first presidential debate at Hofstra University.

“Prevention was a big piece for him,” Schneiderman said.

Shepherding the town through the COVID-19 pandemic, the safety of his officers and the public were paramount concern — he initiated protocols even before the state mandated them. “He always put public safety first,” the supervisor recalled. Skrynecki sent officers out at the onset of COVID to help inform business owners of ever-changing protocols.

Testament to his energetic persona, Murphy recalled that when the chief got COVID himself, “I think he cleaned every surface in his house the first day.” By day two, he was out driving around — he couldn’t stay inside, Murphy said of the colleague who became his friend. “I wish I’d had more time to work with him. He did great things for the town. He was a good man.”

As news of the chief’s death spread, one local business erected a memorial to him. Robert Corvalan, owner of Katrina’s Deli in Hampton Bays, included an inscription on the memorial. It reads, “We mourn the passing of Chief Steven Skrynecki who was a good person and was very special to us. He always was doing his best to safeguard the community and was a great leader of the police force. Every day we looked forward to the chief coming in and ordering his Greek salads or his tuna fish sandwiches. We will truly miss his wonderful smile and the light he brought to this community.”

Community relations were a priority for the chief. He was always willing to meet with community groups, individuals, and town staff to ensure lines of communication stayed open.

In a statement released on October 6, Minerva Perez, executive director of Organización Latino Americana, articulated OLA’s shock and sadness, adding “The depth of dialogue we shared on a range of critical topics was a bright light for us. The fact that we didn’t always agree on the ‘why’ or the ‘how’ never dampened the assurance that we would both truly listen to the other with the active goal of reaching consensus.

“Our hearts go out to his family, his longtime girlfriend, and the police force he governed and protected as he would his own family.”

“He brought the pride in policing to a whole new level,” Schneiderman recounted. “The department is changed because of him. The culture advanced so much because he was there.”

“Throughout life, some of us are lucky enough to meet a person or two who seem to shine brighter than the rest of us,” Town Police Captain James Kiernan said on Friday. “Steve Skrynecki is a perfect example of one of these special people. His knowledge, experience and dedication to the police service has saved countless lives, most of whom we will never know.

“Chief Skrynecki’s every last fiber was set on striving for perfection. Along his public service path, while using his ever sharp senses to prevent tragedy and bring justice for all, he picked up those around him that needed a lift and created teams of people united in the same cause.

“Chief of police was not what he was but rather who he was, and no other has been more worthy or will be more missed.”

After a moment of silence to honor him at the October 11 Town Board work session, board members, wearing black armbands, echoed Kiernan’s words. Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni reported that the Suffolk County Legislature honored the chief with a moment of silence that morning, his reputation was so well-known across the region.

“I miss him deeply,” Councilman John Bouvier said, speaking of the chief’s compassion when working with disadvantaged communities. Councilman Rick Martel recalled the chief’s visits to his shop and the great stories of the community he’d share.

“He was an amazing person,” Councilwoman Cynthia McNamara said. Throughout the days since his death, the councilwoman said she’d heard stories shared by people who interacted with Skrynecki that spoke of the immense respect people had for him.

Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer recounted that when it came time to swear the chief into office, “I asked him who would be doing it and he said, ‘You are, of course.’” He wanted to become a part of the community, and did, Schermeyer said.

Schneiderman said he was concerned Skrynecki wouldn’t take the job and “come to such a small pond,” locally after such a storied career in Nassau. But, said the supervisor, “He put his entire self into keeping the people of Southampton safe.”

What quickly became Nassau’s loss was Southampton’s gain, the Nassau Police statement read. “The region has lost a great leader, and I have lost a dear friend,” Blakeman said.

Ryder worked with Skrynecki, who was a detective in the 3rd Squad when he first started out as a cop. “When Steve made sergeant, I worked for him and when he was again promoted to detective sergeant, I had the pleasure of working cases with him while I was in the Bureau of Special Operations. … We go back a long way and had many conversations about how proud Steve was of his son, Scott, who is a detective sergeant on our job, and his daughter, Kathryn.”

Outside the uniform, Schneiderman said, “He was an interesting guy. He never did anything halfway.” He was a long boarder and, said Murphy, still surfing at 69 years old. “I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Schneiderman is a drummer and reported the chief was “a master teacher.” In fact, Skrynecki was the founder and lead drummer for the past 48 years of the Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, and was able to share that love of music with his son, also a drummer.

The statement from Nassau County included words from the chief’s son, Detective Sergeant Scott Skrynecki: “My father dedicated his life to law enforcement and serving the public at a very young age. I am overwhelmed with pride to follow the example he has set. But the center of his life and his greatest gift to us was his dedication to his family and beloved friends. We will miss him dearly.”

A wake was slated to be held on Tuesday and Wednesday in Hicksville. On Thursday, October 13, a Mass of Christian burial is scheduled at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 37 Union Avenue, Amityville at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum, 2030 Wellwood Avenue, Farmingdale.

“Don’t be surprised if there are thousands of people there,” Schneiderman said. “His legacy is broad and long.”