Southampton Town Appoints New Police Chief

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town appointed a new chief of police recently after Chief Steven Skrynecki's death.

Southampton Town Police Department Captain James Kiernan was appointed as the town’s new police chief at a special meeting of the town board on Dec. 8.

With his family and dozens of police officers, officials, and East End police chiefs looking on, Chief Kiernan took his oath of office, administered by Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer.

He was appointed after a unanimous vote by the Southampton town board. He replaces Chief Skrynecki, who died in October after a brief illness.

Kiernan becomes the sixth police chief since the Southampton Town Police Department was founded in 1951, town officials said.

Kiernan was hired by the town as a police officer in 1997, after having had previous employment as both a social worker and court officer. From there, he was assigned to detective in 2004; promoted to sergeant in 2005; promoted to lieutenant in 2011; became detective lieutenant in 2018; and was promoted to captain/executive officer in 2020.

“James Kiernan has earned this position, after a distinguished career within the Southampton Town Police Department," Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said. "The town council members and I have complete confidence in his ability to lead the department into the future with fairness, compassion, and integrity.”

Councilman Tommy John Schiavoni, town board liaison to the police department, added: “We are proud of our police and it is appropriate to make this promotion from within the ranks of our police department. Chief Kiernan has spent a career of serving the people of Southampton Town and we now look forward to the future of the Southampton Town Police Department under his leadership as chief.”

Councilwoman Cyndi McNamara also weighed in: “I have had the privilege of working with Jimmy Kiernan for the past year. He is a dedicated man of integrity who cares deeply about our community. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to lead as chief and look forward to working with him to make our police department the best it can be.”

The President of the Town’s Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, Erik Breitwieser, spoke at the special meeting: “We are one hundred percent behind Chief Kiernan and support him. On behalf of both the PBA and the Superior Officers’ Association, we look forward to working with him to continue the strong relationship that we have forged.”

Kiernan thanked the town board for its confidence in him, and for being strong supporters of law and order, in partnership with the community and surrounding jurisdictions. “I pledge that this department will do all that it can to ensure a safe environment for our residents, guests, visitors and businesses. I appreciate your vote of confidence and support, and will do my utmost to deserve this honor.”

Skrynecki leaves a long legacy: The street outside St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church in Amityville was a sea of blue in October, as hundreds turned out to bid a solemn farewell to Skrynecki.

Skrynecki died at 69 after battling a rare and "deadly," cancer, his son Scott Skrynecki, also a Nassau County police officer, said as he gave a moving eulogy for his father. His words were woven with beautiful memories, respect, and even laughter as he shared some of the lighter moments of their lives together.

"We are here today to honor the life of my father," Scott Skrynecki said.

During the Kiernan's time with the force, a lawsuit was filed against the Town of Southampton, but ultimately, a judge determined that there was no misconduct on the part of any Southampton Town police officer in the arrest of a defendant charged with drug offenses in 2011.

The trial involved the alleged false arrest, malicious prosecution, and unlawful search of plaintiff Bernard Cooks pursuant to a January 2011 arrest by the Southampton Town Police Department, a release by Southampton Town said at the time.

In May, 2012, the sentences of Bernard Cooks and Riverside resident Mohammed Proctor were vacated by Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota after his office, he said, came across information which affected the credibility of an officer initially unnamed by the DA.

Proctor filed a lawsuit in 2010 seeking $50 million in damages, naming the members of the now-disbanded Southampton Police street crimes unit, including then-Sgt. James Kiernan, Officer Eric Sickles and Assistant District Attorney Andrew Heffernan. Proctor's case alleged that evidence in the case was illegally obtained, and alleged that he was forced to sign a false confession statement.

At the time, Spota's spokesman Robert Clifford said, "The allegations in the civil lawsuit are baseless."

Wilson initiated a probe by Suffolk County Police Department internal affairs investigators. Kiernan was suspended for six months before the town board reinstated him, over Wilson's objections, on Nov. 1, 2012.

"After a full trial, Judge Wexler determined that the Southampton Town police and, in particular, Police Officer Eric Sickles, had more than sufficient evidence to support probable cause to arrest and prosecute Mr. Cooks for possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell, possession of marijuana, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia, and false impersonation," a release from the town said at the time.