SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — As a devastated community mourns his loss, services have been set for Southampton Police Chief Steven Skryneski, who died Thursday at age 69.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. and from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Vernon C. Wagner Funeral Home, located at 125 W. Old Country Road in Hicksville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 11 AM. at the Catholic Church of St. Martin of Tours, located at 37 Union Avenue in Amityville. Interment will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum, located at 2030 Wellwood Avenue in Farmingdale.
Skrynecki also served the Nassau County Police Department for 40 years, Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said.
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According to his son Scott, Skrynecki died after a battle with cancer.
“Chief Skrynecki was one of the best people I've ever met,” Schneiderman said. “He had a distinguished career in law enforcement, which included serving as our Chief of Police for six years. Chief Skrynecki always made public safety his highest priority. Southampton Town is forever grateful for his service and expresses Our sincere condolences to his family.”
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He added: “He was a great man – he did a tremendous job for the city of Southampton.”
Skrynecki's son Scott told Patch, “My father was incredibly loving, loving, giving and caring to everyone in his family. And I think he brought that to his public service in a way that made him even greater as a police officer and a leader .”
He added: “He loved us. He loved music. And he loved the waters of Long Island. We will miss him terribly.”
And, his son said, “My father dedicated his life to law enforcement and serving the public at a very young age. I am filled 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 dear friends. We will miss him dearly.”
Southampton Police issued a statement Thursday: “The loss of such an honorable and respected officer will be felt throughout law enforcement from New York City to the East End of Long Island. He dedicated himself to the profession, imparting the vast experience and knowledge of the people who worked with him. Chief Skrynecki strived to make his communities a safer place for residents and visitors. Chief Skrynecki will be missed not only by the residents of Southampton, the Southampton Police Department and the police of Nassau County but also by the many people he touched throughout his 47 years of service. Please keep the Skrynecki family in your prayers.”
Others mourned his loss: “He was a true professional, always moving law enforcement forward and always focused on community safety while never losing sight of the needs of police officers,” said East Hampton Town Police Chief , Michael Sarlo. “His passion for policing was unparalleled and we will miss his insight and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.”
Drew Scott, a longtime news anchor who served with Skrynecki on the Southampton Town Opioid Addiction Task Force, reflected on a man who touched so many lives. “He was a huge comfort to my family after the death of my granddaughter Hallie Rae. He was caring and kind to everyone he met and a true professional who loved his job. We will miss Steve on the committee for his guidance and knowledge the law.”
Skrynecki was hired as Southampton's police chief in 2016.
Schneiderman said at the time of his hiring that Skrynecki was a “highly decorated and respected law enforcement officer. We are thrilled that he accepted our offer. I think he will be a tremendous leader for our police department.”
Skrynecki, he said, also served in a variety of other positions in the Nassau County Police Department, including chief of detectives, internal affairs commander, narcotics/agents, robbery and vehicle theft squads and Second Precinct.
Nassau County Executive Bruce A. Blakeman and Police Commissioner Patrick J. Ryder expressed their deep sadness at “the untimely passing of retired Nassau County Police Department four-star Chief Skrynecki.
Skrynecki began his 43-year law enforcement career with the Nassau County Police Department on July 12, 1974 as a recruit and steadily rose through the ranks of constable, detective, sergeant, detective sergeant, lieutenant, lieutenant of detectives, captain, chief of detectives, deputy inspector, inspector, deputy chief, assistant chief, chief detective and the department's highest-ranking uniformed officer, chief Blakeman and Ryder.
The chief was also appointed to many specialized units and assignments due to his experience, expertise and dedication, including chief hostage negotiator, commander of the narcotics bureau, internal affairs, robbery squad and several precinct squads. He was also a decorated officer who was awarded several medals with the highest being the Distinguished Service Medal for valor, both said.
He was also a member of many other fraternal and law enforcement organizations inside and outside the police department, they said, adding that his “most beloved” organization was the Nassau County Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, where he was the founder and had been the principal drummer for the past 48 years. He was also a supporter of the Holy Name Society, Municipal Chiefs Association, and was a graduate of the FBI Academy.
“The chief was always known for his tireless 24/7 work ethic and his ability to balance the many demands of the job and taking care of his family. The chief was often the first at work and the last to leave,” they said. .
“Chief Skrynecki will always be known for his many leadership qualities, which contributed to his various promotions. The Chief retired from the Nassau County Police Department in 2017 after being offered the position of Chief of the Southampton Police Department. This that quickly became Nassau's loss was Southampton's gain, due to the chief's expertise in police management, his ability to work with other law enforcement agencies and the trust he earned with communities and residents along the way. , our prayers and condolences go out to the entire Skrynecki family and their friends, the Nassau County Police Department and the Southampton Police Department during our shared time of grief,” Blakeman and Ryder said.
Added Blakeman, “Steve Skrynecki was the consummate law enforcement professional who served Nassau County with great distinction, culminating in his leadership as Chief of the Department of the Nassau County Police Department, the highest rank in uniform. The region has lost a great leader and I have lost a dear friend.”
Ryder also added, “I've known Steve Skrynecki for over 35 years and I can say he was the best of the best in law enforcement. When I started as a police officer I worked with Steve as he was a detective in the 3rd Squad. When Steve was a sergeant I worked for him and when he was promoted back to detective sergeant I had the pleasure of working with him while in the special operations office. When I was promoted to Deputy Commissioner, I took over Steve's office as he had just been appointed as Chief in the City of Southampton. We went back a long way and had many conversations about how proud Steve was of his son Scott, who is a detective sergeant in our work, and his daughter Catherine.'
Skrynecki, Ryder added, enjoyed playing drums in the pipe band. “It was so special that he and his son Scott were able to play in the band together as Scott was also the drummer. This man will be greatly missed for his dedication to law enforcement and even more missed by many others as he was so dedicated to his family and friends. My condolences go out to all.”
In addition, Skrynecki served as security at the 2016 presidential debate.
Skrynecki replaced Southampton Police Chief Robert Pierce, who announced his retirement in 2016.
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