Southampton Police Chief Involved In Accident: Supervisor

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — A Southampton police chief coming to the rescue of a motorist in need was in a car accident last week — but escaped without injuries.

According to Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman, new Southampton Police Chief Steven E. Skrynecki was pulling over in a town vehicle, a Chevrolet Impala, on Thursday, on Horseblock Road in the Holbrook area when he saw "a car billowing smoke on the shoulder of the road. He thought he could help."

The chief, Schneideman said, had a fire extinguisher in his vehicle. As he was pulling over, the car behind him, with a driver who "was probably also looking at the car billowing smoke," rear ended Skrynecki's vehicle, causing it to go into a spin and hit another car.

Skrynecki was taken to the hospital to be checked and released soon after, Schneiderman said. "He's feeling fine. Nobody was hurt. I'm glad he's okay."

Skrynecki was officially sworn in recently; he was selected by the Southampton town board to replace former Chief Robert Pearce, who retired last September. Chief Skrynecki is the fifth police chief since the Southampton Town Police Department was founded in 1951.

Before coming to Southampton, Chief Skrynecki was Chief of the Department in Nassau County since 2010.

Patch file photo.